tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402Fri, 16 Feb 2018 05:54:00 +0000climate changeglobal warminggun controlNRApoliticsclimateenvironmentgun violenceRepublicansDonald TrumpCongressCO2gunsIraqcoaldroughttorture2012 election2016 ElectionEPAWashington StateClint Didierhealth carescienceGOPHillary ClintonObamaRepublicanS.649Supreme CourtTea Partycampaign finance reformshutdownwaterCIACitizens' Climate LobbyDick CheneyGeorge W. 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taxcorruptcorruptioncost driverscounter terrorismcrimecrisisculture warcurrencycyanobacteriacyber warcyclic modeldeathdeath paneldebt-to-GDPdebtors' prisondeep oceandefaultdefensedefense spendingdeforestationdemagoguedeplorablesdepressiondesalinizationdesertdigitaldiscretionary spendingdiseasedisplacementdivisivenessdomestic abusedonatedonorsdoubte-mailsearth atmosphereearth mass extinctionsearthquakeeconomic developmenteconomic impactecosystemseditorialelbowelection monitorselectricelectric trolly car systemelectricity generationelephantsemailemissionsemolumentsencyclicalendangerenergy mixenhanced interrogationenvironmentalismequalityequitableerectile dysfunctioneternityethicsethnographyethoseugenicseuphemismevilevolutionexceptionalismexceptionsexpertsextortionextrajudicial killingextraterrestrialextraterrestrialsextreme risk protection orderfactcheckfactory shipsfaithfall colorsfalse equivalencefalse equivalencyfederal debtfederal income taxfemoral arteryfeverfinancefinancesfinancial collapsefinancial institutionsfirearmsfirefightersfiresfishfish killfisheriesfitrflip-flopfloodedfloodingfloodsfoodfood crisisforcingforeign polcyforestfossil fuelfossil fuel industryfossilized microorganismsfrackingfratricidefree expressionfreedomfriction rubfrowny facesfund raisinggame designgeneticsgenocidegeologyghettoglobalglobal effectsglobal warming hiatusgoldgold mininggolden lion tamaringolfgood practicegovernorgrave robbersgreedgreengreen house gasgreen house gasesgreen manuregreenhouse gas emissionsgreenhouse gas pollutionground watergrowthgun accessoriesgun free zonesgun show loopholeguns in homehabitat losshailharamhazardous wasteheadachehealth savings accountsheat wavehedge fundshidden URLhikinghoaxhomicidehonesthouseholdhousehold budgethuman rightshuman wastehumanshurricaneshydroelectrichydropowerhydrothermal ventshypocriticaliPadice islandice shelf collapseideologyimmigrantsimmigrationimmune systemimpactimpactsimpeachmentinauguration speechincontinenceinfinityinflationinfrastructureinsider tradinginsurgencyintegrated gridintelligent designinterglacialinterrogationintrinsic valueinvertebrateinvestigationinvestigative reportinginvestingissuesjoblessjudicialjust say no politicskafirskillingskuffarlanguagelaw suitslegallendingliarliberallibrarieslieslifelobbyistslogic errorslogical fallaciesloud musiclovemagazinemajority leadermalwaremanmandatory spendingmarketingmass transitmedia biasmeetingmentally illmeteormeteoritesmigrainemigraine triggersmigrantsmigrationmilitary operations other than warmilitary-industrial complexmilitiamilitiasmine deathsminesmisconductmisleading advertisingmisogynymoneymoney marketsmonstersmoon landingmoral absolutemortgage back securitiesmosquitomourningmoviemultinationalsmummymunitionsmurdermyocarditismythsnational debtnational parknatural gasneighborsneofascistsnerve painnewsnoctilucent cloudsnovelnuclear bomb testnuclear disarmamentnuclear non-proliferationnuclear physicsnuclear weapons testingobjectivityobstructionismocean acidificationocean warmingoiloligarchyonlineopen heart surgeryopen spacesopinion pieceosteoarthritisoutlaysoxygenoysterspackagingpainpaper tapepartisanshippassenger pigeonpath forwardpayment networkpayroll taxpercipitationpericardiectomypermafrostpestsphysical realitypie chartpine bark beetleplanet in perilplanetariumplanningplatelet rich plasmapledgeplutocracyplutoniumpoint-counter-pointpolar ice capspolicypolitics environment gaspolopopular votepost-election 2012posterpovertypreservationpresidential debatepresidnetprogressivepronghornprosecutorsprotestersprotestspsychologistspublic apathyqualificationsqualitiesquantum mechanicsquotesracial profilingradicular painreasonrebirthrebrandingrebuttalreceiptsrecurrent pericarditisred herringredistributionredress of grievancesregenerateregulationrelativityreligionrepeal and replacerepresentative democracyrepresentativesresearchresolutionresponsibleretropubicrevenue-neutral carbon taxrevolutionrising sea levelsrisk managementriverrosesrulesrumorss.1956salamandersame sex marriagescamscamssciaticascience writingsea levelseasonssecessionseditionself-replicating systemssemi-automaticsenatorsenatorssequestrationsexsexyshareholdersshellfishshooting deathshrub-steppesignals intelligencesinusskin cancerslaverysmart phonesmokeless tobaccosnowpacksoccersocial justicesocial mediasocialized medicinesolar activitysolar radiationsolar systemsolar windsonogramspacespamspeechspine painsporessportstages of griefstatisticsstatus of forces agreementsternumstimulusstormsstrategicstrategystraw purchasesstring theorystupiditysubatomic physicssubglacialsubprime loanssunsuperdelegatessuppressing congresssurgesurvivalistssustainableswapstashriqtax cutstax payertax returnsteachersteleconnectionstelemarketertelephone callstemperature dataterraformingthinking machinesthird partythreatthreatened/endangered speciestipping pointtipping pointstop 100tourismtoxictrade pacttrade windstraffic deathstrailstransittraveltrawlingtreasontreasuriestreatytrickstroop withdrawaltroponintruthtruth in advertisingtsunamitube wormstundraundergrowthunionsuniverseurban planningutilityvaccinesvalue judgementveteransvictory speechvideovideo gamesviolencevolcanovolcanosvotevoter IDvoter suppressionvoting rightsvoucher schoolswar on sciencewater boardingweak dollarwealthyweaponsweb of lifewell -regulated militiawetlandswheatwhite collar crimewild fireswobblewomen's rightsworkzombieszooxanthellaeболиперикардасердцеAn Unexpected Error<p><i>In the long history of evolution it has not been necessary for man to understand multi-loop nonlinear feedback systems until very recent historical times. Evolutionary processes have not given us the mental skill needed to properly interpret the dynamic behavior of the systems of which we have now become a part.</i><p>J. W. Forrester, 1971</p></p>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)Blogger562125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-7312935462278864054Fri, 13 Oct 2017 21:21:00 +00002017-10-13T14:21:58.225-07:00consumer protectionDodd-FrankFinancial Choice ActGlass-SteagallMake America Fail Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L8BwZbcbjaA/WeEt6kA0KqI/AAAAAAAALf8/KspK48DasOcNFt9Zl1bpg7ZMA-3-rbDpQCLcBGAs/s1600/front_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="553" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L8BwZbcbjaA/WeEt6kA0KqI/AAAAAAAALf8/KspK48DasOcNFt9Zl1bpg7ZMA-3-rbDpQCLcBGAs/s320/front_page.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>Issue: Consumer Protection — Dodd-Frank Repeal</b><br /><br />House Republicans voted June 8, 2017, to <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr4173/text">repeal Dodd-Frank financial regulations</a>. The House approved the Financial Choice Act, which scales back or eliminates many of the post-crisis banking rules. Rep Dan Newhouse (R-WA4) voted for the Act.<br /><br /><b>Background</b><br /><br />Following the financial crisis of 2008, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to “promote the financial stability of the United States by improving accountability and transparency in the financial system, to end ‘too big to fail,’ to protect the American taxpayer by ending bailouts, to protect consumers from abusive financial services practices, and for other purposes.”<br /><br />Dodd-Frank called for a host of new regulations and regulatory and watchdog agencies, including the Financial Stability Oversight Council, the Office of Financial Research, and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.<br /><br />Dodd-Frank also included the so-called Volcker Rule, which prevented government-insured banks from making risky bets with investments. The rule stems from the 1933 Glass-Steagall act, which separated commercial banks from investment banks in order to protect people’s bank accounts from risky investments. It also created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which insures bank deposits. Glass-Steagall was repealed in 1999 under Bill Clinton.<br /><br />Among other things, the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/10">Financial Choice Act</a>:<br /><br />— repeals the Volcker Rule, which prevents government-insured banks from making risky bets with investments<br /><br />— deletes a requirement that retirement advisers put their clients' interests ahead of their own<br /><br />— undercuts the authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau<br /><br />— exempts payday and car title lenders from any regulation<br /><br />— eases “stress test rules” designed to ensure bank liquidity</div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/10/make-america-fail-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-8727418688899377510Thu, 12 Oct 2017 04:47:00 +00002017-10-11T21:47:11.968-07:00ConstitutionDonald TrumpJoe ArpaioNational AnthemNFLtreasonThe right of the people to peaceably assemble<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MXQyclh2KnM/Wd7zBzYf3FI/AAAAAAAALfs/p_vl766MIjQRY7AFSp4FsvB1TOyqRo9BQCLcBGAs/s1600/Flag_Kneel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="487" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MXQyclh2KnM/Wd7zBzYf3FI/AAAAAAAALfs/p_vl766MIjQRY7AFSp4FsvB1TOyqRo9BQCLcBGAs/s320/Flag_Kneel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Donald Trump’s diatribe against NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem is the height of hypocrisy. Trump recently pardoned Joe Arpaio, found guilty of criminal contempt for violating the 4th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution. Arpaio trampled the significance of our flag in the desert sands of his Arizona “concentration camps.”<br /><br />As appalling as Trump’s pardon of Arpaio is, the growing likelihood that Trump conspired with Russia to swing the 2016 election his way, is a traitorous repudiation of the very foundations upon which our Republic is based, and over which our flag flies.<br /><br />I stand for the National Anthem. I proudly fly my flag. My respect for the flag, inculcated in me over my 20 years of military service, is based on what the flag stands for — the values, and beliefs, and behaviors that we share as Americans. One of those values is an abiding respect for the Constitution, under which, “the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition for a redress of grievances,” is protected.<br /><br />Where was Donald Trump when the American Flag flew over the battlefields of Vietnam — on the sidelines. Go there now, Mr. Trump, and hear the petition of the aggrieved.</div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-right-of-people-to-peaceably.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-5844358359168490100Tue, 19 Sep 2017 18:47:00 +00002017-09-19T11:47:57.392-07:00budget reconciliationGraham-CassidyHealthcarerepeal and replaceRepublicans Rush to Kill More Americans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZc8FsqAmFQ/WcFlg215fSI/AAAAAAAALeo/8Eja7RvOHn8nH9n8hdP6c0vrR7Yon2SFACLcBGAs/s1600/trump-ryan-mccon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1600" height="162" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZc8FsqAmFQ/WcFlg215fSI/AAAAAAAALeo/8Eja7RvOHn8nH9n8hdP6c0vrR7Yon2SFACLcBGAs/s320/trump-ryan-mccon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Yeah, yeah, I know. The headline is inflammatory. Exemplary of "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism">Yellow Journalism</a>." The difference is that in their rush to pass a "repeal and replace" healthcare bill before their "budget reconciliation" waiver expires September 30th, Republicans are demonstrating once again that they could care less about how many Americans will die because of inadequate healthcare. So, the end result of what the Republicans are doing is, in effect, killing Americans.</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Republicans can use a <a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-republicans-face-sept-30-deadline-for-1504293908-htmlstory.html">special “budget reconciliation” procedure</a> to advance repeal legislation with 50 votes only until the end of September. So they’re going full speed ahead and "damn the submarines," or in this case, regular order, reasoned dialogue, CBO analysis, and the health of the American people.</div></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/09/18/the-new-gop-health-care-measure-goes-further-than-the-failed-one/?utm_term=.49f967b5ca0e">According to the Washinton Post</a>, "The latest Obamacare overhaul&nbsp;bill gaining steam on Capitol Hill slashes health-care spending more deeply and would likely cover fewer people than a July bill that&nbsp;<a class="" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-gop-leaders-work-to-round-up-votes-for-modest-health-care-overhaul/2017/07/27/ac08fc40-72b7-11e7-8839-ec48ec4cae25_story.html?utm_term=.ec1c59df88e5">failed<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></a>precisely because of such concerns. What’s different now is the sense of urgency senators are bringing to their effort to roll back&nbsp;the Affordable Care Act, with only a dozen days remaining before the legislative vehicle they’re using expires.”</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br class="" /></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">The bill penalizes states that expanded Medicaid (read “Blue States”) giving them less money, while giving more money for states that didn’t (read “Red States”). Cut could be anywhere from 35% to 60%. <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/like-other-aca-repeal-bills-cassidy-graham-plan-would-add-millions-to-uninsured">Washington State could be cut over $3 billion</a>.</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br class="" /></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">The bill once again attacks the Affordable Care Act's “essential health benefits,” provision, the&nbsp;baseline services insurers must cover. "That means there will <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/09/18/the-new-gop-health-care-measure-goes-further-than-the-failed-one/?utm_term=.4bbd5e3f78b5">no longer be a rock-solid prohibition</a> on charging higher premiums to people with preexisting medical conditions, although states would need federal waivers.”</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br class="" /></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">The Graham -- Cassidy (Bill Cassidy, R-LA) bill basically puts governors in charge of doling out healthcare. As of 2016, 34 states were run by Republican governors. And <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/14/1598918/-Republicans-now-dominate-state-government-with-32-legislatures-and-33-governors">Republicans control both the House and Senate</a> in 32 states. So, we can see where Americans’ healthcare is headed if this bill passes.</div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br class="" /></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Speaker <a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/house/351270-ryan-graham-cassidy-best-last-chance-to-repeal-obamacare">Paul Ryan said</a>&nbsp;he would bring the bill to the House floor without plans for a conference committee, and before a full CBO analysis. Why? Because this is all about politics. Candidate Trump picked up the Republican "repeal and replace" mantle and has lambasted republicans for not getting it done. He knows it's red meat for his base, and Republicans want the "win" for the president and the Grand Old Party. If millions of Americans lose coverage (<a href="https://www.vox.com/2017/7/19/16000840/senate-obamacare-cbo-score">32 million by some counts</a>), and millions die because they lack access to healthcare, so what? They're dying anyway as a result of hurricanes and other extreme weather events that aren't due to human-caused climate change.</div></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/09/republicans-rush-to-kill-more-americans.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-7086026678376816723Sun, 04 Jun 2017 04:33:00 +00002017-06-03T21:33:29.844-07:00Carl BakerEnlightenmentMarch for TruthModel Truth TellingpledgeModel Truth Telling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c2ff2c92-712c-51ed-ab1b-c8600a581269" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A talk by Carl Baker</span><span id="docs-internal-guid-c2ff2c92-712c-51ed-ab1b-c8600a581269" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> at the March for Truth</span></span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c2ff2c92-712c-51ed-ab1b-c8600a581269" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pasco, Washington, June 3, 2017</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UeZzWZ_wW0o/WTONZHZK_aI/AAAAAAAALQw/mYoHXSSgCeMovOSbsFyx3D8F57XQGtcIgCLcB/s1600/C_%252BBaker%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="620" height="148" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UeZzWZ_wW0o/WTONZHZK_aI/AAAAAAAALQw/mYoHXSSgCeMovOSbsFyx3D8F57XQGtcIgCLcB/s320/C_%252BBaker%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><span id="docs-internal-guid-c2ff2c92-712c-51ed-ab1b-c8600a581269" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.</i></span></i><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Our founding document begins with the idea that power in this country is held by the people. &nbsp;That we are to govern ourselves. And that the government that we have built is our tool that we use to govern ourselves.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I know that many of you think that the government that we have today is no longer responsive to the people. That it's been corrupted. And I agree. But I contend that the core idea of self-governance cannot be removed. It is still present. &nbsp;The constitution still starts with "We the People". And we can return our government to its proper role as a servant to the people rather than as a tool for their exploitation. &nbsp;The tools are there if we will do the work. And we are doing the work. We are marching and protesting and organizing and running for office. &nbsp;And we are calling and writing and emailing and talking to our elected representatives and reminding them that they work for us.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And I'd like to add to this work by asking that we take a minute to ask how we got here. To step back in time and consider the historical context in which the words "We the People" were originally penned. Because this was a unique time in the history of the world. We've labeled it as the <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/enlightenment/">Enlightenment</a>. And it was a time in which the thinkers of the day were recognizing the importance of the idea of truth. That it was possible (even easy) to be fooled about what is and isn't true about the world. And that it mattered. That if you believe things that are not true about the world, you have no defense against behaving in ways that cause harm to yourself or to others.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.biography.com/people/ren-descartes-37613">René Descartes</a> quote "Cogito ergo soom" is an important element of the early Enlightenment. These are words that many of us have heard many times. But what do they mean? &nbsp;They translate to "I think, therefore I am". &nbsp;But that's hardly helpful, is it? &nbsp;What is Descartes doing here? He seems to be making an argument, the conclusion of which is "I am". &nbsp;How is this any kind of satisfactory or sensible conclusion? &nbsp;"I am"? &nbsp;I mean, of course you exist. How is this a question?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The answer is that these are the words of a man seeking to know the truth. A man who was so obsessed with finding the truth that he was determined to make no assumptions. To question everything. Including his own existence.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This idea that the truth matters pervades the Enlightenment. One might say that it is the Enlightenment. And it forms the basis of all of our intellectual enterprises. In science, and mathematics and philosophy and history and other endeavors we find this dedication to the truth.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And to discover the truth, we've built institutions dedicated to finding it. Human institutions that try to compensate for our tendency to fool ourselves. &nbsp;Systems that try to winnow the good ideas from the bad. &nbsp;Institutions in which ideas are put forward and examined and corrected or discarded. And these systems allow us to make progress toward learning what's true. They are human institutions and subject to human failings, but the do make progress. &nbsp;Over time, slowly and clumsily, they fumble along and bad ideas are discarded and good ones retained.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So this is where we come from. This well-motivated, high-minded passion for the truth has brought us these clunky, ponderous, failure-prone, but ultimately effective institutions that help us find what is and isn't true about the world.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And this actually pretty good, right? Because by figuring out what is and isn't true about the world, we've come to understand that:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You shouldn't invest with Bernie Madoff.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It's not ok to own black people as property.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Vaccines do prevent disease and don't cause autism.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We can have an adverse effect on our environment.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We can fix the problems that we cause to our environment.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It's really true that we are exploiting immigrants and not the other way around.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The idea that I'm sneaking up on is the idea that our government shares its heritage with our other truth-seeking institutions. That it is one of these cumbersome, ponderous, adversarial, failure-prone, but ultimately effective processes for uncovering the truth. &nbsp;And yet, today, we live in a world of "post-truth politics". &nbsp;A world of "alternative facts". &nbsp;A world in which the President of the United States can contradict himself multiple times within a single sentence, and it's considered normal.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So what do we do about this? Well, get out your smartphone or tablet, because the "ask" is coming up. Or you can respond on paper later at that table over there. But here's the idea. We're going to start by modeling the behaviour that we want to see in our elected representatives. We'll adopt the idea that the truth matters, and we'll act on it. This is actually the hard part. Because if the truth matters, our own ideas about it have to take second place. When we present an idea, and someone challenges it, we have to ask "could they be right?" &nbsp;"Am I wrong about this?". &nbsp;And when we're shown to be wrong, &nbsp;we have to correct ourselves. Which is something that humans have a huge psychological resistance to. Especially at first. But it gets easier with time.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Here is what the research suggests we need to do to get people to do</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- fact-check information before believing it</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- share only verified, trustworthy information</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- retract information that they shared that proved false</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- encourage others - even your allies - to avoid sharing false information</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- defend others - even your opponents - when they share true information</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- ask others to retract false information</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- celebrate when others acknowledge they are wrong</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So we model the behavior. And we ask others to do the same. Including our elected officials. And we hold them and ourselves accountable when we fail. We start with ourselves and our local officials and we move to state and federal officials and we change the culture. We discard "post-truth politics" and "alternative facts" as failed ideas and we return the truth to its rightful place in our political system.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So if you're on-board with this idea, I'll ask you to go to <a href="http://protruthpledge.org/">Protruthpledge.org</a> and take the pledge. Do the things I've talked about and the longer list of things that are on the website and the posters at the table. &nbsp;And once enough of us have done this, we can go to our local elected officials and ask them to sign on. Point out that their constituents care about the truth and that we want our officials to do the same.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">An important element of this project is that there is an accountability aspect to it. &nbsp;We're asking those who have taken the pledge to be public about it. And substantive violations can be reported to the organization for evaluation and corrective pressure applied. This won't apply as much to individuals, but more to elected officials.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This effort needs volunteers and organizers as well. If you're willing, you can help recruit others to sign on. You can lobby your elected officials to sign on. &nbsp;You can be part of the organization promoting this culture shift. There are places on the website to volunteer to be part of the effort in various ways. Or you can just sign up.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I'll close with a quote from a Facebook comment by a friend of mine named Mike Blackford: "We must always remember that the behavior of free people in a democratic society can only be controlled by the manipulation of what they believe. &nbsp;A totalitarian regime doesn't need to be very concerned with what people under their control believe because their behavior is directly controlled. A theocratic regime imposes itself upon what the people are allowed to believe and often punishes heresy with death.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot;; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When the very nature of Truth itself is under attack, and facts are buried under a pile of lies, falsehoods, deceit, myths, and frauds, and when hypocrisy is rewarded while integrity is assaulted, our liberties in a democratic society are in serious jeopardy. &nbsp;Those who peddle falsehoods and lies are enemies of our democracy itself."</span></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/06/model-truth-telling.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-5436617621279688178Sat, 20 May 2017 20:24:00 +00002017-05-20T13:24:33.185-07:002017Armed Forces DayCOL Andrew HesserMay 20Tri-Cities WAUSMCThe Price of Liberty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Colonel Andrew Hesser, USMC (ret’d)</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Armed Forces Day 20 May 2017</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LikI6FnbTHk/WSCdTJJUpsI/AAAAAAAALMQ/gkJiGw-FuHEXzajkQbSKT38KWdiFEWc0QCLcB/s1600/IMG_3478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LikI6FnbTHk/WSCdTJJUpsI/AAAAAAAALMQ/gkJiGw-FuHEXzajkQbSKT38KWdiFEWc0QCLcB/s320/IMG_3478.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regional Veterans' Memorial, Columbia Park, Kennewick, WA</td></tr></tbody></table>“We will pay any price, bear any burden, support any friend, and oppose any foe to ensure the success of liberty.”&nbsp; These words of President Kennedy from his inaugural address might raise the question of just what, exactly, is the price of liberty?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NBwMXUAqHIA/WSCdUsRYWOI/AAAAAAAALMo/USVhkoVbA_QPP8w78x9FfrRGBU96ibXmQCEw/s1600/IMG_3485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NBwMXUAqHIA/WSCdUsRYWOI/AAAAAAAALMo/USVhkoVbA_QPP8w78x9FfrRGBU96ibXmQCEw/s320/IMG_3485.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Were I to ask you what you think was the most important event in the 20th century, I’d like to think most of you would come up with something more significant than Princess Diana’s death – which is what 30% of the people in a recent survey said was the 20th century’s “most memorable” event.<br /><br />I think it could be argued that the most important event of the 20th Century was the First World War.&nbsp; It was most important because of the impact the War had on Europe and the rest of the World.&nbsp; It is fitting, therefore, that we look back one hundred years and try to understand this war and how it continues to impact the world today.<br /><br />The First World War, or the Great War, as it was called before it was surpassed by the Second, has captured my fascination.&nbsp; As a professional soldier, I have tried to understand how men could keep on under the appalling conditions they found themselves in on the Western Front. <br /><br />Today, I’d like to share with you some of the things I’ve done and seen in the past several years, as I tried to understand what some historians consider the real beginning of the 20th century.<br /><br />The first question we might think about is “Why did the war happen?”&nbsp; Was it the system of alliances?&nbsp; The growth of military capability?&nbsp; The fact Europe had almost a century of mostly peace?&nbsp; What was it that caused this war? <br /><br />Several years ago, when I was a student at the Naval War College in Newport, RI, my history professor said that the Great War happened because “No great power said it wouldn’t!”&nbsp; Not the Austrians, or the Russians, or the Germans, or the French, or the British. <br /><br />I’ve seen the car in which Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were riding when they were assassinated in Sarajevo--it’s in the Military Museum in Vienna.&nbsp; Once I went to Artstetten, their palace an hour and a half west of Vienna.&nbsp; There I was taken on a private tour of the museum, which is what it is now and was shown the crypts where the Archduke, and his wife laid to rest.&nbsp; My escort was the great-grandson of Archduke Ferdinand.<br /><br />I went to Bad Ischl and toured the hunting lodge of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph – it was he who declared war on Serbia.&nbsp; I’ve stood behind the desk on which he kicked off the chain of events that ultimately cost 60 million lives–when you consider the 50 million killed in WWII.<br /><br />As important as these were, though, no understanding of the Great War is complete without seeing the battlefields.&nbsp; As many of you surely know, after a few initial months, the Western Front was stabilized along a 400-mile front from the North Sea to Switzerland.&nbsp; The trenches were, in some cases, only 50 meters apart and almost never more than a few hundred.&nbsp; In between was a term coined from that war: “no man’s land.”<br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cOg53uqnHkg/WSCdSFJXBrI/AAAAAAAALMo/sMBrCWcCn5AUWV4MIXyy1gMUjEauKHJnwCEw/s1600/IMG_3484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cOg53uqnHkg/WSCdSFJXBrI/AAAAAAAALMo/sMBrCWcCn5AUWV4MIXyy1gMUjEauKHJnwCEw/s320/IMG_3484.jpg" width="212" /></a><br />It is possible to walk the trench lines from the Belgium Coast to Switzerland, because in many places the trenches are still there.&nbsp; If they aren’t, you can just follow the cemeteries; over 160 in one battlefield alone.<br /><br />By 1916, the War had become a war of attrition, and the Germans decided to attack on the salient around Verdun, in NW France.&nbsp; The strategy was to attack a place the French would have to defend and to “bleed them white.”&nbsp; Nowhere on the Western Front does the magnitude of the war hit home like it does at Verdun.&nbsp; I’ve been there three times–in 1983, 2001, and again in 2014.&nbsp; OK, I admit—I’m a little strange!<br /><br />The trenches are there; so are the forts.&nbsp; During the battle not a tree was left standing; afterwards, the government planted trees, but no one can go for a picnic in these forests.&nbsp; Actually, signs prohibit you from leaving the roads –the woods are simply filled with unexploded ordnance.<br /><br />The battle for Verdun raged from February to November 1916, and it almost destroyed the French Army.&nbsp; Virtually every French regiment fought there, and when the war was over, the French build the largest war memorial I’ve ever seen to house the bones of those killed on the surrounding hills.<br /><br />15,000 are buried in front of the Ossuary (literally a place for burying bones), each with a cross that says, “Mort por la France” – died for France.<br /><br />After the war, all the bones were dug up from the shallow graves around Verdun – both French and German – and buried in the basement of the Ossuary.&nbsp; If you get on your hands and knees, you can look into the windows and see the bones.<br /><br />How many do you think are there?&nbsp; Remember, these are all unknown.&nbsp; Would 10,000 sound like a lot?&nbsp;&nbsp; 30,000?&nbsp; How about 50,000 (about what we lost in a dozen years in Vietnam)?&nbsp; Would you believe 130,000 unknown?&nbsp; That was the price of liberty at Verdun.<br /><br />A few years ago, I had the chance to visit the Somme River valley.&nbsp; The very word has a special meaning to the British.&nbsp; To relieve pressure on Verdun, the high command decided a joint British-French offensive would be launched on the first of July 1916.&nbsp; The French didn’t have many divisions to contribute (only 3), so the British put in 17.&nbsp; To an impartial observer, there could scarcely have been a poorer place chosen for the British to attack.&nbsp; The Germans had been dug in for almost two years, constructing deep bunkers and communications lines.<br /><br />Nevertheless, on the first of July, 1916, the forces of the British Empire went “over the top.”&nbsp; There had seldom been a slaughter in the history of warfare to compare with the losses the British suffered.&nbsp; Of 100,000 men who attacked, roughly 20,000 were killed on that single day –with another 40,000 wounded ---60% casualties.<br /><br />You can visit the Canadian Newfoundland Memorial at the Somme.&nbsp; It is superbly kept.&nbsp; The trenches are there; between them are the shell holes.&nbsp; Sheep keep the grass down, so you can see what the ground looked like.&nbsp; Three hundred yards away are the German trenches; they’re maintained. as well.&nbsp; I walked where the Canadians launched their attack, then I moved to the other side, a couple hundred yards away, to see what the Germans saw.<br /><br />The question that I could not answer was, “How could troops continue to attack in the face of such resistance?”&nbsp; One company attacked kicking a soccer ball.&nbsp; They announced in advance:<br /><br /><i>The Great European Cup</i><br /><i>The Final East Surreys v. Bavarians</i><br /><i>Kickoff at Zero.</i><br /><br />The First Newfoundland Regiment ceased to exist.&nbsp; That was the price of liberty the Canadians paid.<br /><br />The British erected two great monuments to the War in the 1920s.&nbsp; One is called, “The Missing of the Somme.”&nbsp; Imagine a four-sided horseshoe magnet rising from the battlefield, inscribed with the names of those killed there who, in Kipling’s words, “Lie in no known graves.”&nbsp; How many names do you think are on that monument?&nbsp; Remember, this is just one battle –July-November 1916.&nbsp; Would you believe 73,400?&nbsp; And this is just British and South African troops, the Canadians and ANZACS had their own monuments.<br /><br />I was struck by the poppies at the monument, when I was there.&nbsp; School children and great grandchildren come to pay their respects.&nbsp; In the British Military Museum in London, I came across a letter from a British trooper.&nbsp; He said, “If you get this letter, you’ll know I died doing my duty.”&nbsp; Such was the price of liberty for this family.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ppu.org.uk/vera/">Vera Brittain</a> wrote a book about her losses – her brother, her fiancé, and two close friends – it became a best seller.&nbsp; So was <a href="http://www.warpoets.org/poets/robert-graves-1895-1985/">Robert Graves</a>’ “Goodbye to All That.”<br /><br />And so, 1916 came to an end –basically where it started.&nbsp; One of the heroes of Verdun was put in command of a French Army in the middle of the line.&nbsp; He decided to attack in April of 1917, and the French Army was slaughtered – the Germans again had the high ground.&nbsp; I toured their underground fortifications.&nbsp; The French Army mutinied – not mentioned much anymore.&nbsp; 23,000 were convicted of mutiny after Chamin de Dames; 432 condemned to death; 50 executed.&nbsp; The French never attacked again.&nbsp; They waited for the Americans.<br /><br />As bad as the Somme was, it was worse at Passchendale in 1917.&nbsp; The British held the Belgium town of Ypres throughout the war.&nbsp; Three battles were fought there, with the greatest in 1917. Never in the history of warfare has a battle been fought under more appalling conditions.&nbsp; The entire battlefield was a swamp.&nbsp; If a soldier stepped off the duckboards, he’d probably drown, being weighed down with all his equipment.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IcCQqHaX3p4/WSCiCgnjIjI/AAAAAAAALMw/THRplR8xgEAz58-SJsyGMd1Jpvo2D_iHACLcB/s1600/somme.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IcCQqHaX3p4/WSCiCgnjIjI/AAAAAAAALMw/THRplR8xgEAz58-SJsyGMd1Jpvo2D_iHACLcB/s320/somme.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>The British attacked in the summer of 1917 and kept on attacking until, months later, they reached the high ground three miles away.&nbsp; Thirty-five men were killed for each meter of ground gained.&nbsp; The most famous poem of the war came out of this battle:<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow,</i><br /><i>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Beneath the crosses, row on row;</i><br /><i>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;And in the sky, the larks bravely singing fly,</i><br /><i>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Scarcely heard amid the guns below.</i><br /><br />I was in Ypres in 2001, on Armistice Day.&nbsp; Thousands of Brits were there to pay their respects.&nbsp; At the Menin Gate—the other great British monument—are listed 55,000 names of Commonwealth soldiers who lie in unknown graves.&nbsp; 35,000 additional unknown are listed at Tyne Cot Cemetery—the largest British cemetery in Europe,<br /><br />Every night at 2000 hours, the Ypres fire brigade plays “The Last Post,” sort of the British “Taps.”&nbsp; They started playing in the 1920s, when the Menin Gate monument was dedicated, and if they play “The Last Post” once an evening for a soldier killed in the Ypres Salient, they’ll play until the 25th century.&nbsp; Such is the price of liberty.<br /><br />At the Somme and at Ypres, the battlefields keep on killing people.&nbsp; Every spring, unexploded ordnance is plowed up.&nbsp; The farmers stack it beside the road, and explosive ordnance disposal units collect and dispose of it.&nbsp; Every eight years or so, on average, some farmer on a tractor is killed by an explosion.<br /><br />The bodies keep coming up, too.&nbsp; When I was there, I saw a dozen new graves—bones that had been recently discovered when a contractor was excavating to build a new road.&nbsp; Apparently, the war never ends in France.<br /><br />I’ve been to Belleau Wood, where the Marines fought so hard the French Government declared that forevermore the woods would be known as the Bois de le Marine.&nbsp; I drank from the bulldog fountain, where Marines filled their canteens.&nbsp; It looks just like it did in 1918.&nbsp; The trenches are still there, but don’t leave the path!<br /><br />I went to Compeign, where the Armistice was signed in a railcar-and where Adolf Hitler (who fought at Ypres) made the French surrender in 1940.<br /><br />So, from the beginning in Sarajevo to the end in Compeign, the Great War consumed its youth.&nbsp; Two million Germans, 1.7 million French, a million British.&nbsp; 35% of those baby boys born from 1882 to 1885. <br /><br />In every cathedral of France of any significance, there is a simple plaque:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;“To the Glory of God and in memory of one million men of the British Empire who died in the Great War, and of whom the greater number rest in France.”</div><br />That was the price of liberty.<br /><br />So, what was the long-term impact of the Great War?&nbsp; Politically, it destroyed the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and the Turkish Ottoman Empire.&nbsp; It led directly to the establishment of the Soviet Union.&nbsp; It also led to the rise of Hitler’s Germany and the Second World War.&nbsp; It destroyed empires and led to the creation of the League of Nations and new countries throughout the world.&nbsp; And it led to the United States becoming a world power for the first time.&nbsp; The modern Middle East looks like it does today because of the War. <br /><br />Socially, the war led to the emancipation of women and largely to their entrance into the work force.&nbsp; It also led to a sense of loss of innocence—no longer would people think that civilization was on a steady path to improvement.&nbsp; In some places—think Britain—it led to pacifism. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zFPdnJ_TLcs/WSCdVQLZjqI/AAAAAAAALMo/o11H_VAkkfYFPo9Lv7yxbYqqdWsecCQOgCEw/s1600/IMG_3486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zFPdnJ_TLcs/WSCdVQLZjqI/AAAAAAAALMo/o11H_VAkkfYFPo9Lv7yxbYqqdWsecCQOgCEw/s320/IMG_3486.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On this day, here in the safety of the Tri-Cities, it is fitting for us who live in safety and freedom to remember those of a lost generation who fought for God, and King, and Country—and for the liberty we enjoy.<br /><br />Thank you very much.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-isx3LTi50A0/WSCdV3Db32I/AAAAAAAALMo/D9N1BF1Po5Iedm679_zAgLSxcAf0_qkUgCEw/s1600/IMG_3487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-isx3LTi50A0/WSCdV3Db32I/AAAAAAAALMo/D9N1BF1Po5Iedm679_zAgLSxcAf0_qkUgCEw/s320/IMG_3487.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-price-of-liberty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-3767128991647639378Tue, 09 May 2017 04:23:00 +00002017-05-08T21:31:28.173-07:00ability to pay fees/finesdebtors' prisonE2SHB 1783LFO debtDebtors' Prison<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GNNaCBSvNdc/WRFC8AjgTII/AAAAAAAALGg/iQnR5Mz_NooGIrN4FaX6efuEV8NAJND9ACLcB/s1600/BCK-951-BS_F3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GNNaCBSvNdc/WRFC8AjgTII/AAAAAAAALGg/iQnR5Mz_NooGIrN4FaX6efuEV8NAJND9ACLcB/s200/BCK-951-BS_F3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>House Bill 1783 is about giving people a fair chance to get back on their feet once they get out of prison. Our current system prevents offenders from being able to get their lives back on the right track. The bill prioritizes restitution and establishes a more rational standard for determining ability to pay. Imposing intereston legal financial obligations (LFOs) was first thought to be an incentive for offenders topay, but instead it has been shown to be an impediment. The current 12 percent interest rate is onerous and makes the LFO debt skyrocket. This results in what amounts to a <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/12/debtors-prison-back">debtors' prison</a>. H.B. 1783 would change this. The bill is currently in the State Senate as <a href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/1783-S2.E%20SBR%20LAW%2017.pdf">E2SHB 1783</a>.<br /><br />We want offenders to rebuild their lives once they are released from prison. There are many barriers to reentry, but LFOs are one of the hardest to overcome. Ask your state senator to support E2SHB 1783.</div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/05/debtors-prison.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-6269170574960898108Sun, 07 May 2017 20:40:00 +00002017-05-07T13:40:51.372-07:00Brigitte MacronDonald TrumpEmmanual MacronFranceMelania TrumppresidentEmmanuel Macron has won the French presidential election -- Vive la France!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_isAR5ODq1c/WQ-A2dzT-6I/AAAAAAAALBA/g2GrNC1DM2AezONgRXLyZunF6X0HW1XVACLcB/s1600/TfyS4uXb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_isAR5ODq1c/WQ-A2dzT-6I/AAAAAAAALBA/g2GrNC1DM2AezONgRXLyZunF6X0HW1XVACLcB/s320/TfyS4uXb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New French President, Emmanuel Macron</td></tr></tbody></table>Unlike the Americans, French voters were too smart to be swayed by far right dirty tricks. They get a smart, good-looking, sane guy with a whip smart wife as president. We get Donald Trump and Melania. BTW, Trump is 24 years older than Melania, which is the same age difference between Macron and his wife, <span>Brigitte, only the age differential is reversed. Thus, it's "scandalous."</span></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/05/emmanuel-macron-has-won-french.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-1869232933842291173Sun, 07 May 2017 19:55:00 +00002017-05-07T12:55:16.724-07:00Brittany BolenByron BrownCaryn MuellerleileEO 13777EPAregulationsRyan JacksonSamantha DravisScott PruittURGENT -- EPA Review of Regulations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We have only six more days to comment on the <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OA-2017-0190-0042">Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implementation</a> of the President's Executive Order 13777. <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-HQ-OA-2017-0190">Comment now!</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6mhQd9qbP0/WQ9tziw9JPI/AAAAAAAALAc/FmrUtnjKvBQL8P7-G7iH8K7WP9KNhDsuwCLcB/s1600/Donald-Trump-executive-order-immigration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6mhQd9qbP0/WQ9tziw9JPI/AAAAAAAALAc/FmrUtnjKvBQL8P7-G7iH8K7WP9KNhDsuwCLcB/s400/Donald-Trump-executive-order-immigration.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">On February 24, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” which established a federal policy “to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens” on the American people.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Section 3(a) of the EO directs federal agencies to establish a Regulatory Reform Task Force (Task Force). One of the duties of the Task Force is to evaluate existing regulations and “make recommendations to the <span class="text_exposed_show">agency head regarding their repeal, replacement, or modification.” The EO further asks that each Task Force “attempt to identify regulations that:</span></span></span><br /><div class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">(i) Eliminate jobs, or inhibit job creation;</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">(ii) are outdated, unnecessary, or ineffective;</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">(iii) impose costs that exceed benefits;</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">(iv) create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with regulatory reform initiatives and policies;</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">(v) are inconsistent with the requirements of section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriates Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note), or the guidance issued pursuant to that provision in particular those regulations that rely in whole or in part on data, information, or methods that are not publicly available or that are insufficiently transparent to meet the standard of reproducibility; or</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">(vi) derive from or implement Executive Orders or other Presidential directives that have been subsequently rescinded or substantially modified.”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">I wrote to </span><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Caryn Muellerleile, of the EPA Office of Policy requesting further information on the task force and how it would conduct its review. Here is my email, followed by her response.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span></span><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Dear Ms Muellerleile;</span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Would you please tell me who the members of the EPA regulations review “task force” are, what their qualifications are, and what scientific techniques they will employ to adjudicate the criterion measures on your website. </span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Thank you,</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">/s/ </span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dear Mr. Badalamente,</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Thank you for your interest in EPA’s regulatory reform efforts.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In accordance with Executive Order 13777 on Enforcing the Regulatory Agenda, which is designed to reduce the regulatory burdens agencies place on the American people, EPA has established a Regulatory Reform Officer (RRO) and a Regulatory Reform Task Force. Administrator Pruitt has charged Samantha Dravis, Senior Counsel and Associate Administrator for Policy, to serve as RRO and Ryan Jackson, Chief of Staff, to serve as chairman of the Task Force. Other members of the Task Force include Byron Brown and Brittany Bolen, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Office of Policy Deputy Associate Administrator, respectively.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Task Force is charged with evaluating existing regulations and making recommendations to the Administrator regarding rules that can be repealed, replaced or modified to make them less burdensome. Their recommendations will be informed by a public participation process that includes state, local and tribal governments, small businesses, consumers, non-governmental organizations and trade associations. At the Administrator’s directive, EPA’s Offices of Air and Radiation, Land and Emergency Management, Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Water, Environmental Information, Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations and Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization are consulting with their specific stakeholders for their input.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">You can find more information about EPA’s regulatory reform activities on our<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/regulatory-reform" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;">website</a>.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Thank you again for your interest in this important issue.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Sincerely,</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Caryn Muellerleile</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Office of Policy</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">US Environmental Protection Agency</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Washington, DC 20460</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(202) 564-2855</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="mailto:muellerleile.caryn@epa.gov" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">muellerleile.caryn@epa.gov</span></a></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br />Note that Ms Muellerleile failed to address my question regarding the qualifications of the task force members, nor the scientific techniques they would emply to judge the merits of the reulations. However, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-demand-answers-from-pruitt-on-new-epa-orders-that-ignore-input-from-scientists-american-people-on-epa-protections">wrote to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt</a> in April 2017 demanding answers to this and other questions regarding Pruitt's planned review. They pointed out that Pruitt has placed political appointees in the position of adjudicating what is and what is not sound science, and wrote;<br /><br />"Neither you, nor Associate Administrator for Policy Samantha Dravis, nor Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson, nor Deputy Chief of Staff Byron Brown, nor Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy Brittany Bolen, <i>have any meaningful scientific background</i>. We therefore fail to see how your background will allow for the proper evaluation of the rigorous methodologies and quality of evidence that are the foundations of sound science.”<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eD5ZeeI7vos/WQ96TQwTiyI/AAAAAAAALAw/TLCroZwGotEN6u1XAykcFt3gLtAeowS9QCLcB/s1600/pruitt_links.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eD5ZeeI7vos/WQ96TQwTiyI/AAAAAAAALAw/TLCroZwGotEN6u1XAykcFt3gLtAeowS9QCLcB/s320/pruitt_links.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sen Sheldon Whitehouse pointing out SDcott Pruitt's ties to the fossil industry during confirmation hearings</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Those of you wishing to <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-demand-answers-from-pruitt-on-new-epa-orders-that-ignore-input-from-scientists-american-people-on-epa-protections">comment on Pruitt's directive</a> might reiterate this point.<br /><br />The <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-demand-answers-from-pruitt-on-new-epa-orders-that-ignore-input-from-scientists-american-people-on-epa-protections">Schatz/Markey/Whitehouse letter</a> also demanded that Pruitt provide written assurances on the following points:<span></span><br /><div class="wordsection1"><br /></div><div class="wordsection1CxSpMiddle"><span>·<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span>EPA’s Regulatory Reform Task Force will fully engage with public health, consumer protection, and environmental groups, as well as the general public, in order to better understand the scale and scope of the benefits associated with each regulation under consideration.<span></span></div><div class="wordsection1CxSpMiddle"><span>·<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span>EPA will make public, on its website, the names and affiliations of all participants that provide input to the Task Force.<span></span></div><div class="wordsection1CxSpMiddle"><span>·<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span>EPA will transparently disclose its calculations of both costs and benefits in considering the merits or any particular regulation.<span></span></div><div class="wordsection1CxSpMiddle"><span>·<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span>Political appointees will not interfere with routine and non-controversial regulatory actions informed by career EPA scientists acting in the best interest of the public.<span></span></div><span>·<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span>Going forward, you will justify all decisions you make that ignore the advice of EPA scientists with the body of peer-reviewed scientific literature relied upon in arriving at your decision.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">These are worth reiterating in your comments.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Scott Pruitt is counting on the apathy of Americans as he goes about dismantling the agency he <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/14/us/politics/document-Pruitt-v-EPA-a-Compilation-of-Oklahoma-14.html?_r=0">sued multiple times</a>. Disappoint him. Comment, and keep fighting! </div></div></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/05/urgent-epa-review-of-regulations.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-2780370192792455521Sun, 16 Apr 2017 18:56:00 +00002017-04-16T11:56:17.413-07:00Citizens Climate Lobbyclimate changeClimate Leadership CouncilDan NewhouseFFAHouse Climate CaucuspoliticsR-WA4WFBChanging Rep. Dan Newhouse's Votes on Climate Change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VenZIc3x5Y/WPL6AbdzvhI/AAAAAAAAK2M/u9P9lkOWhgQI2acgSdLToeSl3wlCaIx6ACEw/s1600/NEWHOUSE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VenZIc3x5Y/WPL6AbdzvhI/AAAAAAAAK2M/u9P9lkOWhgQI2acgSdLToeSl3wlCaIx6ACEw/s320/NEWHOUSE.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Look, we don't really care so much about changing our representative's "mind," as we do about changing his/her votes to more closely conform to our position on the issues. Take Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA4), for example. Those of us concerned with climate change want him to sponsor, co-sponsor, or otherwise support <u>and vote for</u> legislation addressing the mitigation of climate change. Principally, we want him to support legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.<br /><br />How do we accomplish this end?<br /><br /><b>Education</b>: We could try educating Mr. Newhouse about how the climate is changing, why the climate is changing, what the impacts and costs of climate change are, and how we can reduce GHG emissions without harming the economy. This requires a <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/">science</a> lesson, an <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/22lrokkdaf4a8fh/The-Economic-Climate-Fiscal-Power-and-Demographic-Impact-of-a-National-Fee-and-Dividend-Carbon-Tax-6.9.14.pdf?dl=0">economics</a> lesson, and a <a href="http://citizensclimatelobby.org/basics-carbon-fee-dividend/">policy</a> lesson. Generally legislators don't like being lectured to, don't have time to dive into climate science (or any other science, for that matter), and aren't necessarily swayed by scientific facts so much as <a href="http://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/mgilens/files/gilens_and_page_2014_-testing_theories_of_american_politics.doc.pdf">electoral facts</a>.<br /><br /><b>Political Will</b>: "Political will" is the watch word of the <a href="http://citizensclimatelobby.org/">Citizens' Climate Lobby</a>. The CCL would have us work to educate voters in the 4th Congressional District -- Mr. Newhouse's constituency -- and convince them that climate change tops their agenda of issues, such as family-wage jobs, budget deficits, the Second Amendment, abortion, etc. Then encourage them to convey their concerns about climate change to Mr. Newhouse, demonstrating the political will for action. Almost sixty percent of voters in Mr. Newhouse's district voted for Donald Trump. That should tell you what you need to know about the prospects for this strategy.<br /><br /><b>Leverage</b>: We can find ways to convince Mr. Newhouse's <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=Career&amp;cid=N00036403&amp;type=I">main campaign contributors</a> -- agribusiness -- that climate change will hurt their profits and that Mr. Newhouse should help them avoid that. We can liaise with agribusiness organizations, such as the <a href="http://wsfb.com/">Washington Farm Bureau</a> (WFB), to update them on climate change developments, and to offer expertise on dealing with them. We can work through these organizations to put pressure on Mr. Newhouse to join the <a href="http://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-solutions-caucus/">House Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus</a> so that he is able to represent Columbia Basin circumstances and needs in D.C. policy making. This will be difficult. The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonFarmBureau/">WFB "includes more than 46,000 member families"</a> and is the state's largest general farm organization representing farmers and ranchers. The WFB's <a href="http://wsfb.com/policy-book/">2017 Policy Book</a> demonstrates that the WFB wants no truck with climate change <u>whatsoever</u>. The paragraphs dealing with it are shown in the figure below (click to enlarge). Note particularly Par. 66. If we are going to change the WFB's views on climate change, we'd do well to start with future farmers -- <a href="https://www.ffa.org/about/what-is-ffa">the FFA</a> -- who are having their <a href="http://wsfb.com/event/87th-washington-ffa-state-convention/?instance_id=715">87th State Convention</a>, May 11 - 13, 2017, at WSU.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7-elaioM_X8/WPLzdk6QZYI/AAAAAAAAK18/Y3R8HeH-zgguAtL1yXFMIRT1qNTje5tUwCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-04-15%2Bat%2B8.17.52%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7-elaioM_X8/WPLzdk6QZYI/AAAAAAAAK18/Y3R8HeH-zgguAtL1yXFMIRT1qNTje5tUwCLcB/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-04-15%2Bat%2B8.17.52%2BPM.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washington Farm Bureau 2017 Policy Book</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DlyLzv5oWkE/WPO6BNmcHEI/AAAAAAAAK2g/f3gK3MUbIXMM19tlq9xc77AwdUzT-lZEQCLcB/s1600/ag-map-1024x643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DlyLzv5oWkE/WPO6BNmcHEI/AAAAAAAAK2g/f3gK3MUbIXMM19tlq9xc77AwdUzT-lZEQCLcB/s320/ag-map-1024x643.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's Growing in Washington?</td></tr></tbody></table><b>By-Pass</b>: We can work around Mr. Newhouse at the state level through the initiative process, as we did with <a href="https://yeson732.org/">I-732, the CarbonWA-led carbon tax initiative</a>. We must be better at uniting the environmental community to make this work (the public split between the "save the planet" faction, and the "social justice" faction, doomed the bill). A promising initiative program is another form of leverage. Getting a carbon tax passed at the national level in the current Republican-dominated climate (no pun intended) will be near impossible, despite the promise of the <a href="https://www.clcouncil.org/">Climate Leadership Council</a>, and the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. Another pass at a state solution is more plausible.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GNAzlYR2HF8/WPO4TuDw_LI/AAAAAAAAK2c/GvQHAOB0fCsczI2nGxuVuPJEYeOSIEe1gCLcB/s1600/Climate_Caucus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GNAzlYR2HF8/WPO4TuDw_LI/AAAAAAAAK2c/GvQHAOB0fCsczI2nGxuVuPJEYeOSIEe1gCLcB/s320/Climate_Caucus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">U.S. House Climate Solutions Caucus</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Replace</b>: We can identify a viable candidate who accepts climate change science, democrat or republican, to run against Mr. Newhouse in the 2018 Election and again in the 2020 Election, and again in the 2022 Election, and so on <i>ad-infinitum</i>, if necessary. This is another form of leverage, and by far the most effective.<br /><br />These options aren't all mutually exclusive, and can be worked more or less simultaneously, but knowing where to allocate one's limited resources is important. My predisposition <u>at this time</u>, would be to concentrate on by-pass and replace.</div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/04/changing-rep-dan-newhouses-votes-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-4445764237681127039Mon, 13 Mar 2017 18:51:00 +00002017-03-13T11:51:36.331-07:008th LDDOBCDCCmeeting8th LD and BCDCC to Meet Wednesday, March 15, 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2EogCs4rgpc/WMbp8DuYxuI/AAAAAAAAKwE/n0LJkbeN74geL5yeEDt7VEHAL3Tr0vHYwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2EogCs4rgpc/WMbp8DuYxuI/AAAAAAAAKwE/n0LJkbeN74geL5yeEDt7VEHAL3Tr0vHYwCLcB/s320/IMG_2193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The Benton County and 8th Legislative District Democrats will hold their regular monthly meeting this coming Wednesday, March 15th, at the union's labor hall on Duportail, just off the bypass in Richland. The 8th LD meets at 6:00 pm followed immediately by the BCDCC at 7:00 pm.<br /><br />Please review <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=9506491&amp;msgid=651111&amp;act=YUX1&amp;c=234181&amp;destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bencodems.org%2Fdocs%2FSecretary%2F2017%2520Minutes%2FBCDCC%2520Draft%2520Minutes%25202017%252002%252015.pdf">last month's meeting minutes</a> prior to the meeting.</div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/03/8th-ld-and-bcdcc-to-meet-wednesday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-2157321814204338783Mon, 13 Mar 2017 03:01:00 +00002017-03-12T20:01:33.597-07:00ACAAHCACBODonald TrumppresidnetPutinWho Hasn't Donald Trump Insulted?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The latest institution to be denigrated by the White House is the Congressional Budget Office. Sean Spicer, the President's ditzy Press Secretary, said that the CBO's financial analysis of the Republican's proposed 'American Health Care Act,' should not be trusted. This preemptive strike against the CBO is due to widespread reports that the analysis will show the <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2017/03/09/expect-the-cbo-to-estimate-large-coverage-losses-from-the-gop-health-care-plan/">AHCA to be vastly inferior</a> to the Affordable Care Act, covering far few people at far higher premiums.<br /><br />Trump has now dismissed, denigrated, or demeaned the <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/11/u-s-spies-to-trump-stop-comparing-us-to-nazis.html">Intelligence Community</a>, the military officer corps -- "<a href="http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/294919-trump-us-generals-have-been-reduced-to-rubble">rubble</a>" -- Senator John McCain, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/19/us/politics/trump-belittles-mccains-war-record.html?_r=0">because he was captured</a> during the Vietnam War, the U.S. <a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/02/05/trump-vs-the-judiciary">Judiciary</a>, former president, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/04/politics/trump-obama-wiretap-tweet/">Barack Obama</a>, the U.S. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/us/politics/donald-trump-congress-democrats.html">Electoral System</a>, and the <a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/316578-trump-blasts-media-as-opposition-party">Media</a>, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/09/politics/donald-trump-islam-hates-us/">Muslims</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/9-outrageous-things-donald-trump-has-said-about-latinos_us_55e483a1e4b0c818f618904b">Mexicans</a>, to say nothing of past Republican <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/crooked-hillary-marco-donald-trumps-nicknames/story?id=39035114">presidential nominees</a>, and of course, "Crooked Hillary," and women generally, for whom he demonstrates <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/politics/donald-trump-sexism-tracker-every-offensive-comment-in-one-place/">appalling disrespect</a>.<br /><br />The only entity for whom the American President, Donald J. Trump, exhibits respect, and indeed admiration, is Russian President, Vladimir Putin. I wonder why that is.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbberjHH_ns/WMYK8zinmOI/AAAAAAAAKvs/8hnNULve3IMSMMdNXrkjBVYXbcg3BzTYgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbberjHH_ns/WMYK8zinmOI/AAAAAAAAKvs/8hnNULve3IMSMMdNXrkjBVYXbcg3BzTYgCLcB/s320/IMG_1050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/03/who-hasnt-donald-trump-insulted.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-3312874432868899263Fri, 10 Mar 2017 20:00:00 +00002017-03-10T12:00:40.058-08:00Californiaground waterpercipitationsnowpackwaterCalifornia's Extreme Percipitation this Winter Will Not Solve Water Problems<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}" id="js_9"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lI31kJuK9Bk/WMMFPO-NL5I/AAAAAAAAKuw/up7wze5co-Y7s6Pe9tmTFmyc5KGLCUz-ACLcB/s1600/omkn7b-b88905581z.120170309154015000gs4ls79c.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lI31kJuK9Bk/WMMFPO-NL5I/AAAAAAAAKuw/up7wze5co-Y7s6Pe9tmTFmyc5KGLCUz-ACLcB/s320/omkn7b-b88905581z.120170309154015000gs4ls79c.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oroville Dam, California</td></tr></tbody></table>Amazing rain and snow in California this winter have made people think the drought is finished and everything can go back to normal.<br /><br /> California gets it water from three sources, about a third each from: precipitation, snowpack, and aquifers (groundwater). In many areas of the state, groundwater systems have been depleted for long periods - even between droughts - from which they have not recovered.<br /><br /> Excessive, long-term groundwater over-use resulting in groundwater depletion can cause subsidence and permanent loss of groundwater storage as well as water quality degradation and seawater intrusion. These long-term impacts on groundwater have not been remedied by the recent weather. If recovery is possible, it will likely take several to many years to accomplish.</div></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/03/californias-extreme-percipitation-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-328776009242158086Sun, 05 Mar 2017 22:56:00 +00002017-03-05T15:06:34.154-08:00anti-protest lawsArizonaDoug EricksenGOPIowaMinnesotaNorth DakotaprotestersRussiaWashingtonShut the fuck up, and support the Моско́вский Кремль's agenda!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-McrXC6IGdBY/WLx7jHe7Y1I/AAAAAAAAKtQ/fk6Uh-94EMskvOzPYGzTyU-lR71q_OaxACEw/s1600/FL_Protest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-McrXC6IGdBY/WLx7jHe7Y1I/AAAAAAAAKtQ/fk6Uh-94EMskvOzPYGzTyU-lR71q_OaxACEw/s320/FL_Protest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Republican legislators are getting tired of all these American spoil-sports protesting the 2016 Election. Hey, the Russians won the election fair and square and installed their Manchurian Candidate and it's time for America to collectively sit down, shut the fuck up, and support the <a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%9A%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BB%D1%8C">Моско́вский Кремль's </a>agenda!<br /><br />Feeling that it’s time to “make America safe again,” Republican state legislators are hard at work filing laws to enact harsher punishments for those charged with activities that show disrespect for authority or increase commute times.<br /><br />Give GOP lawmakers credit. They are attacking this terrible protester issue on top of all the other things they’re doing to “make America safe again;” like passing laws to permit <a href="https://www.thetrace.org/2017/01/new-bill-congress-states-concealed-constitutional-carry-reciprocity/">concealed carry across state lines</a>, dismantling healthcare, repealing protections for LGTB people, blocking rules that require background checks before people with <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-signs-bill-revoking-obama-era-gun-checks-people-mental-n727221">mental health issues can buy guns</a>, repealing President Obama’s <a href="http://www.vox.com/2017/2/2/14488448/stream-protection-rule">water quality bill,</a> and a bill limiting <a href="http://time.com/4659832/congress-overturns-methane-gas-emission-rule/">methane pollution</a>, repealing an order that requires federal contractors to disclose labor law violations, and other Obama-era laws that large GOP donors, like the Koch Brothers and the NRA charge are too burdensome, and or, violate the Constitution, as they interpret it, which clearly doesn't include freedom of speech.<br /><br />Examples of some of America’s intrepid Republican lawmakers policy proposals include Indiana State Sen. Jim Tomes’ <a href="http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/senate/285#document-79282dd2">proposed bill (SB 285)</a> that would require public officials to dispatch police within 15 minutes of reported “mass traffic obstructions” with instructions to clear them by “any means necessary.”<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vnx6K7o1k6k/WLx7cFROlfI/AAAAAAAAKtA/dutIIcvlLR4sx4du7WAY2IBfurttN49EwCEw/s1600/DAP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vnx6K7o1k6k/WLx7cFROlfI/AAAAAAAAKtA/dutIIcvlLR4sx4du7WAY2IBfurttN49EwCEw/s320/DAP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In North Dakota, <a href="http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/65-2017/documents/17-0351-01000.pdf">HB 1203</a>&nbsp;would lift liability from&nbsp;drivers who “accidentally” hit protesters who are in roadways. The bill was introduced amid&nbsp;demonstrations against the Dakota Access Pipeline.<br /><br />Iowa lawmakers <a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/23/iowa-bill-5-years-prison-highway-protesters/96956940/">introduced a bill</a> that, if passed, would mean protesters who blocked highways could be charged with felonies carrying penalties of five years in prison. Just coincidently, Republicans rescinded an Obama administration order to phase out the use of private-prison contracts in the federal Bureau of Prisons. GEO Group, one of the nation’s largest for-profit prison operators, donated $250,000 to support Trump’s inaugural festivities. They were disappointed their investment didn’t payoff immediately with the arrest of at least a couple hundred thousand of the millions of disrespectful women who marched the day after Trump’s inauguration.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iN9Lk1PwzeY/WLx7Xu5a5nI/AAAAAAAAKs8/qOjqfMdo9YYleq1jVxiBt4DE7MR_OUkCgCEw/s1600/2017-01-21T193129Z_1452296932_RC1206F6DC60_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP-WOMEN-BOSTON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iN9Lk1PwzeY/WLx7Xu5a5nI/AAAAAAAAKs8/qOjqfMdo9YYleq1jVxiBt4DE7MR_OUkCgCEw/s400/2017-01-21T193129Z_1452296932_RC1206F6DC60_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP-WOMEN-BOSTON.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Arizona Senate, not to be outdone by the Cornhuskers, approved <a href="https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/GetDocumentPdf/449438">Senate Bill 1142</a> which expands the definition of rioting to include “damage to the property of another person, and adds rioting to the list of offenses that could fall under racketeering.<br /><br />State Democratic legislators warned that SB1142’s provisions could theoretically be used in tandem to bring charges against peaceful protesters at a demonstration where other participants use violence. State Senator John Kavanaugh told the Capitol Times that the bill was aimed at “full-time, almost professional agent-provocateurs that attempt to create public disorder.” He also indicated the bill’s racketeering provisions could be used by police to investigate protest organizers ahead of time. Now there’s an idea that Mr. Putin would second, except that he would advocate using poison as part of the investigative toolkit.<br /><br />Minnesota Republican lawmakers <a href="http://www.twincities.com/2017/01/24/minnesota-house-committee-approves-bill-that-would-charge-protesters/">approved legislation</a> that would increase penalties and charge demonstrators the cost of policing protests. It may be that they hope to use the added revenue to pay for the renovation of <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2017/01/10/bloomington-s-water-park-of-america-to-close-at.html">Bloomington’s Water Park of America</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DIqYT35H_wo/WLx7e4MSaHI/AAAAAAAAKtE/VoUSvXdHZgkEikS_jtY2uMdIeOWRRWMsACEw/s1600/Doug-Ericksen-20140114_LegWA_0043ks-e1418952086238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DIqYT35H_wo/WLx7e4MSaHI/AAAAAAAAKtE/VoUSvXdHZgkEikS_jtY2uMdIeOWRRWMsACEw/s200/Doug-Ericksen-20140114_LegWA_0043ks-e1418952086238.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Here in Washington, State Senator Doug Ericksen (WA-42), when he wasn’t campaigning for Donald Trump, was cooking up a bill of his own, <a href="http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5009.pdf">S.B. 5009 (2017-18),</a> that would label protesters, “<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/306580-washington-republican-floats-charging-protesters-with-economic-terrorism">economic terrorists</a>.” The terrorist label may be useful, because it could place protesters on the No-Fly list and keep them from escaping to North Korea.<br /><br />When asked about the fuzzy wording of his bill, and what would constitute “economic terrorism,” Ericksen said any sort of "economic disruption" or anything that could "jeopardize human life and property." Violators could face five years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both. So, Erickson is also coming through for the private prison folks who’ve contributed so generously to Republican coffers, to say nothing of the oil and gas industry donors to his campaign— The 42nd District includes two oil refineries and a controversial proposed coal-export terminal.<br /><br />According to reports, the U.S. is set to rival Russia in oil and gas exports. With Republican lawmakers hard at work, America may <a href="http://euromaidanpress.com/2016/01/27/ever-more-russians-are-at-risk-of-repression-as-putins-russia-heads-toward-totalitarianism/#arvlbdata">rival Russia in other ways</a>, as well; to a place where anything that isn’t permitted, is prohibited, and anything that is permitted, is compulsory. Get ready to attend Trump’s 2020 inauguration!<br /><span style="color: #783f04;">______________________________________</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Did you know that you can call your members of congress using just one telephone number? Call <b>1-844-USA-0234</b> to be immediately connected to your members of Congress.</span> </div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/03/shut-fuck-up-and-support-s-agenda.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-2801100746649605030Thu, 02 Mar 2017 20:00:00 +00002017-03-02T12:00:53.422-08:00Donald TrumpJeff SessionsSergey KislyakSergey Ivanovich Kislyak<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7OrS3CQy2Bw/WLhxyvxGaOI/AAAAAAAAKrs/sBZg-i2C-a8wVmtwv-1VAiADTBQZLk1NgCLcB/s1600/amb_Kislyak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7OrS3CQy2Bw/WLhxyvxGaOI/AAAAAAAAKrs/sBZg-i2C-a8wVmtwv-1VAiADTBQZLk1NgCLcB/s200/amb_Kislyak.jpg" width="174" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nT5hULcTrqQ/WLhx2Xq7l_I/AAAAAAAAKrw/d80jsI6f-owUjFQCrgBxvEYBVkQJE97UwCLcB/s1600/thumb_1382522b-4ddc-4730-8283-49c772ec1dfd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nT5hULcTrqQ/WLhx2Xq7l_I/AAAAAAAAKrw/d80jsI6f-owUjFQCrgBxvEYBVkQJE97UwCLcB/s200/thumb_1382522b-4ddc-4730-8283-49c772ec1dfd.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Official Biography<br />Ambassador Sergey I. KISLYAK<br />Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the U.S. <br /><ul><li>Born in 1950. </li><li>Graduated from Moscow Engineering Physics Institute in 1973, as well as from USSR Academy of Foreign Trade in 1977. </li><li>Employee of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation since 1977. </li><li>1981-1985 – Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the USSR to the UN in New York. </li><li>1985-1989 – First Secretary, Counselor of the Embassy of the USSR to the U.S. </li><li>1989-1991 – Deputy Director of the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR. </li><li>1991-1993 – Deputy Director of the Department of International Scientific and Technical Cooperation of the Foreign Ministry of the USSR/Russia. </li><li>1993-1995 – Director of the Department of International Scientific and Technical Cooperation of the Foreign Ministry of Russia. </li><li>1995-1998 – Director of the Department of Security Affairs and Disarmament of the Foreign Ministry of Russia. </li><li>1998-2003 – Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Belgium and, simultaneously, Permanent Representative of Russia to NATO in Brussels, Belgium </li><li>2003-2008 - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. </li><li>Holds a diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. </li><li>Speaks English and French. </li><li>Married, with one adult daughter.&nbsp;</li><li>Met with now U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions twice during Trump 2016 campaign. </li></ul></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/03/sergey-ivanovich-kislyak.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-5767526030322366830Tue, 21 Feb 2017 03:50:00 +00002017-02-20T19:50:41.468-08:00conflictsConstitutionDonald Trumpemolumentstax returnsAn Open Letter to the New Treasury Secretary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">February 20, 2017<br /><br />The Honorable <a href="https://www.treasury.gov/about/Pages/Secretary.aspx">Steven T. Mnuchin</a><br />Secretary of the Treasury<br />United States of America<br /><br />Dear Mr. Secretary:<br /><br />I’m seventy-nine years old and have never failed to submit a tax return, from the time I worked as a delivery boy in high school, through my two decades in the U.S. military, two decades working for a government laboratory in national security, right up until today, in my retirement.<br /><br />I’ve willingly paid my taxes under 11 presidents; six republicans and five democrats. Like serving in the military, for me, paying taxes was a way of giving back to my country for the rights and privileges I enjoyed as a citizen of this great nation.<br /><br />Now I am looking at the prospect come April 15th of paying taxes under another president, Donald J Trump. I have to tell you, Mr. Secretary, that for the first time ever, I hesitate to do so. Not for ideological reasons — although I strongly disagree with Mr. Trump’s ideology — and not because Mr. Trump avoided paying taxes for so many years. I hesitate because Mr. Trump refuses to make a clean break from his global business interests. Until he does so, he will <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-would-be-violating-constitution-if-he-continues-to-own-his-businesses">unavoidably be violating the Emoluments Clause</a> of the U.S. Constitution.<br /><br />Mr. Trump claimed that he eliminated potential trouble with emoluments by turning over operation of the business to his children. That argument is inane, but even if we believed that the President would not discuss Trump business dealings with “the kids,” as long as he continues to profit from his business empire—which he does whether or not he is nominally in charge, the possibility that foreign actors will attempt to affect his policies by frequenting his hotels, golf courses, resorts, and casinos, remains an issue of national concern.<br /><br />Mr. Trump apparently feels that divestiture is too high a price to pay to be President of the United States, just as he felt it was “<a href="http://www.snopes.com/trump-taxes-smart/">smart” not to pay taxes</a>.<br /><br />We might understand better the intricacies and entanglements of Mr. Trump’s business holdings and partners if we could examine his tax returns, but he has steadfastly refused to release them&nbsp; — something every president has done since Gerald Ford.<br /><br />So you see the reason for my hesitation to submit my tax return on April 15 — I can’t be sure that my tax dollars won’t be going to line the pockets of foreign actors whose business dealings with the President have curried his favor. Maybe Mr. Trump is right; maybe it isn’t smart to pay taxes. At least, not until we have a president willing to abide by the Constitution.<br /><br />Thank you for your understanding.<br /><br />Very Respectfully,<br /><br />Richard Badalamente, LTC, USAF (Ret.)</div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/02/an-open-letter-to-new-treasury-secretary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-2081360145940064188Fri, 17 Feb 2017 03:34:00 +00002017-02-16T19:34:21.982-08:00Donald Trumpforeign polcyLogan ActMichael Flynnnational securityDoanld Trump Speaking to Himself on Foreign Policy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M6_lDW2QLfw/WKS6D22PCbI/AAAAAAAAKnw/Ikz7BZ1hoE8SnSl-mq6tMyeLx1Luh2Z0gCLcB/s1600/IMG_0749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M6_lDW2QLfw/WKS6D22PCbI/AAAAAAAAKnw/Ikz7BZ1hoE8SnSl-mq6tMyeLx1Luh2Z0gCLcB/s320/IMG_0749.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“I’m speaking with myself, number one, because</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I have a very good brain and I’ve said a lot of things."</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Donald Trump on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” in early March 2016</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">when asked who he talks with consistently about foreign policy)</span></div><br />Now that President Donald Trump's handpicked National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn has been forced to resign, Trump can go back to speaking with himself about national security and foreign policy. Or he can just call the Russians directly, instead of having Flynn do it for him. You see, there's no way Michale Flynn, a 33-year veteran of the Army, calls the Russians without <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/02/flynn-resigns-timeline/516594/">direction from his so-to-be Commander-in-Chief.</a> And the "soon-to-be" qualifier matters, too. Donald Trump was not the president, nor Flynn his National Security Advisor, when these talks took place. Therefore, the talks were a violation of the <a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/02/14/515279336/what-is-the-logan-act-and-why-does-it-matter">Logan Act</a>, which states, in part:<br /><br /><i>"Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both."</i><br /><br />Whether or not prosecutors take action under the act, the law was broken, and if it can be shown that Donald Trump directed that Flynn contact the Russians to reassure them that President Obama's sanctions would be revoked once Trump was in office, then Trump is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and should be impeached. Furthermore, if it can be shown that Trump and/or his campaign staff colluded with the Russians on their interference in the 2016 Election, then we have a constitutional crisis of unparalleled dimensions.<br /><br /></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/02/doanld-trump-speaking-to-himself-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-9200504765379461110Sat, 21 Jan 2017 01:50:00 +00002017-01-20T17:50:03.049-08:00#April15Pledgeconflicts of interestDoanld TrumpEmoluments Clausefederal income taxIRSSteven MnuchinUS ConstitutionThe April 15th Pledge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">January 20, 2017<br /><br />The Honorable Steven Mnuchin<br />Secretary of the Treasury<br />United States of America<br /><br />Dear Mr. Secretary;<br /><br />I am writing to inform you that effective April 15, 2017, I intend to cease paying Federal Income Taxes. I will pay no further taxes until President Donald J. Trump complies with Article 1, Section 9 — the ‘<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/gs_121616_emoluments-clause1.pdf">Emoluments Clause</a>' — of the United States Constitution.<br /><br />President Trump’s <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/01/donald-trump-conflicts-of-interests/508382/">vague pledges</a> to abide by the Constitution in this regard, as every president before him has done, do not satisfy the spirit, the intent, or the letter of the said clause.<br /><br />I intend to withhold my tax payments until such time as an independent committee finds unequivocally that President Trump has rid himself of conflicts and complied with the Emoluments Clause, and the United States Congress has certified this finding.<br /><br />Very Respectfully,<br /><br />/s/<br /><br />Richard V Badalamente<br />Citizen, United States of America</div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-april-15th-pledge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-5767698040972095121Tue, 10 Jan 2017 18:05:00 +00002017-12-25T14:32:34.329-08:00Benton CountydemagogueDonald TrumpMid-ColumbiapresidentXenophobiaMy Benton County Neighbors Vote for Trump<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PX9reO3QnUA" width="560"></iframe> <br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Back in November of 2015, when the prospect of a Trump Presidency seemed a nightmare fantasy, I watched video of one of his rallies in which, holding his right hand at an awkward angle, he jerked and gyrated in an hideous mockery of a disabled reporter, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serge_F._Kovaleski">Serge Kovaleski</a>. I was disgusted, repulsed; the idea that any decent human being, let alone a candidate for President of the United States of America, would do this was unbelievable. I was frankly incredulous.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Kovaleski, a Pulitzer Prize winner, who has <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthrogryposis" title="Arthrogryposis">arthrogryposis</a>, had the audacity to contradict Trump’s charge that “thousands and thousands” of people cheered in Jersey City as the Twin Towers collapsed. Like so many of Mr. Trump’s incendiary claims about immigrants and minorities, that claim was <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/nov/22/donald-trump/fact-checking-trumps-claim-thousands-new-jersey-ch/">unequivocally false</a>.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Over the course of his campaign, Trump demonstrated over and over again that he was <a href="http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/">untrustworthy</a> and <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/06/the-mind-of-donald-trump/480771/">intellectually and temperamentally</a> unfit to hold the highest office in the land. He continues to do that to this day.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">So much has already been written about why Donald Trump won the election, from the decline of the Middle Class, to the xenophobia created by Trump and his allies. But what I question, and what distresses me most — besides the prospect of a Trump Presidency— is why <a href="http://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/president/washington/">almost 60% of my neighbors here in Benton County</a> voted for Trump. As I've written previously, <a href="http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2010/09/feeding-at-federal-trough-brief-history.html">"<span class="Apple-style-span">The Mid-Columbia is of and by the government."</span></a></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">We here in Benton County, like the rest of Eastern Washington, survive and thrive as a result of massive government spending on water projects, the agriculture that's possible as a result<span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">, </span>bomb making and the cleaning up of the mess made doing it, and the funding of leading edge science by the <a href="https://www.pnl.gov/">Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)</a>. The election of Donald Trump is a repudiation of all that government has done for us -- it is like killing the goose that laid those golden eggs, but in this case, we are the geese.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">How to explain it? Surely my neighbors cannot be so ignorant of our government's largess and how we benefit from it. I know for a fact that my friends in agriculture realize the benefits of Eastern Washington's vast network of government-funded dams and waterways. I am less sure that they understand the leading edge climate science performed at PNNL -- republicans seem either immune to, or in stark denial of science in general, and especially climate science.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">So I have to ask myself, were we so afraid of “others” that we willingly abandoned our values and entrusted our Nation to such an odious demagogue? If so, shame on us.</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k0eIAvJbGA4/WHUfSjRTffI/AAAAAAAAKhE/Te3qASD4FtEj4VI3RlPJM8g-RbbEhZbSQCLcB/s1600/Trump-salute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k0eIAvJbGA4/WHUfSjRTffI/AAAAAAAAKhE/Te3qASD4FtEj4VI3RlPJM8g-RbbEhZbSQCLcB/s320/Trump-salute.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2017/01/my-benton-county-neighbors-vote-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-5733650155391946121Sun, 18 Dec 2016 19:15:00 +00002016-12-18T11:24:26.484-08:00" Donald Trump2016 Electioncancerchildhood leukemiaMuslimsneighborsNeighbors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>This was originally written in the Winter of 2015. This winter, as we await the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States, think about our neighbors far and wide, and about families like Ahmed's, and so many others that Trump, in his rhetoric has <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/us/donald-trump-blacks-hispanics-muslims.html?_r=0">demeaned and marginalized</a>. Think about the America you want to be a part of, and then determine to make it so. </i></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LCIQ2hHk9Yg/WFbbE0Jhv8I/AAAAAAAAKZ8/DgclAcB2Nf4rmzUMYK3k17s2JkjmJRswQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LCIQ2hHk9Yg/WFbbE0Jhv8I/AAAAAAAAKZ8/DgclAcB2Nf4rmzUMYK3k17s2JkjmJRswQCLcB/s320/IMG_2101.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter 2016, Kennewick, Washington</td></tr></tbody></table>I stepped out the front door of our new home to get some groceries from the car. We’d just moved in and I was stocking up. A young boy hurried over from across the street and said, “Welcome to the neighborhood!”<br /><br />“Well, thank you,” I said, surprised by this kid’s enthusiastic welcome.<br />“How do you like it here?” he asked. He was a slender kid, with black hair, dark eyes, and an infectious smile.<br /><br />“We just got here,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.<br /><br />“It’s a nice neighborhood,” he said, and turning to look across the street said, “We live right over there.”<br /><br />I ran into the kid a lot after that. He played with a boy that lived next door to us -- football, baseball, soccer, hockey -- and all in the front yard and the street. The tennis ball with which they played baseball invariably ended up in my yard and after I’d fetched it a few times, they invited me to play “home run derby” with them. I was assigned pitching duties.<br /><br />Thanks to the kid, I got to know his family a bit -- father, mother, a younger brother, and three younger sisters. Nice people. Good neighbors.<br /><br />The family moved after a year or so -- not far, but far enough so that my baseball career was over. The next time I saw the boy he had walked over to see his friend and stopped by my house to say hello. He asked after my wife and son.<br />“Fine,” I said, and asked after his family.<br />They were all good.<br /><br />He was wearing his soccer uniform. I asked him how he was doing on the high school soccer team and he told me he wasn’t playing because he was experiencing bad back pain. I asked him if he’d hurt himself. He said no. “They don’t know what’s causing it.”<br /><br />It turned out the boy had <a href="http://www.cancer.org/cancer/leukemiainchildren/">childhood leukemia</a>. He required an aggressive regime of chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and radiation at a hospital in another city, three hours away. He spent a prolonged stay in the hospital for treatment, and to avoid infection. After his release, his father drove him back to the hospital every week for two-day treatments. The father’s contracting business was put on hold.<br /><br />I went over to the family’s new house several times during this period to check on the boy. He’d lost his hair. He had no appetite. He’d lost weight. He looked pale. And he asked me, “How are things in the neighborhood? How’s your wife? How’s your son?”<br /><br />The boy is 16 now. His hair has grown back. He’s gained weight. He’s playing soccer again. He still has to be taken to the clinic every month for maintenance chemotherapy. This will go on for two years.<br /><br />The family is doing well. The father is working full time again. They just had their sixth child -- another boy. They are strong in their faith. It sustains them -- “Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, the Compassionate, the Merciful.”<br /><br />Ahmed is happy. He just got his learner’s permit. He told me he wants to be a doctor. “I want to cure cancer,” he said.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CKoFRnEHecQ/Vm-PuwZnqtI/AAAAAAAAJqs/zP0mceM4ziQ/s1600/IMG_2124.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CKoFRnEHecQ/Vm-PuwZnqtI/AAAAAAAAJqs/zP0mceM4ziQ/s320/IMG_2124.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2016/12/neighbors.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-998080306297318200Thu, 01 Dec 2016 01:12:00 +00002016-11-30T19:08:00.491-08:002016 ElectionDonald Trumpstages of griefStages of Grief -- Where the Hell Am I? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jYN4CllWuiM" width="560"></iframe><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="_Tgc">The five stages of grief according to popular psychological theory are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.</span></span></b><br /><br /><span class="_Tgc">I was in denial while watching the election returns November 8th. </span>I haven't watched the news since, except out of the corner of my eye when my wife is watching The Today Show, or The View. I'm not watching the parody news I used to enjoy, like The Daily Show, or the late night shows, like Stephen Colbert. What is there to laugh about?<br /><br />It makes me sick to see Donald Trump strutting around, giving the thumbs up gesture, a smug expression on his puffy, orange face. He's a confidence man, and he's pulled off the biggest con in the history of American politics. Sixty million, five hundred and twenty-six thousand, eight hundred and fifty-two American voters fell for it. So, what, I'm angry? God damned right I'm angry.<br /><br />It's easy to label Trump voters as bigots, racists, fearful xenophobics, "America first" nationalists -- certainly many are, but many are undereducated people who find themselves in relatively low-paying jobs, with no hope for clawing their way up to a better life. These people worked in America's factories, and steel mills, deep down in the coal mines, in textiles, basic housewares, furniture, and paper products -- all low-proficiency factory positions.<br /><br />Cheaper cross-border labor, the shift to cheaper natural gas, and automation put many of these people out of work. Donald Trump started by offering to re-educate these people at his "Trump University." He's being taken to court for that con job.<br /><br />When will the dupes who voted for Trump realize they've been taken for the gullible fools "The Donald" saw them as. Am I bargaining now, e.g., "You relatively reasonable Trump voters please learn your lessons and don't vote for a 2nd term for the odious asshole." Is that where I am? Bargaining?<br /><br />I don't think I'm totally there yet. I'm still angry. I'm angry at the run-of-the-mill republicans, who voted for Trump because they're ideologues -- they could give a shit about Trump being unqualified to lead the Nation either by knowledge, experience, character, or temperament. He was a Republican and that was enough. In my region of Washington State, Benton County, 47, 194 people voted for Donald Trump -- almost 59% of my neighbors. Who the fuck are these people?! <br /><br />Yes, and I'm angry at the liberal-left "BernieCrats" who demonstrated their annoyance at Bernie not getting the Democratic nomination by voting for a 3rd Party candidate, mostly Jill Stein. Stein was pretty questionable as a presidential prospect, but voting for her was a nice way to show their pique.<br /><br />And I'm angry at the so-called "millennials," some of whom were just young in terms of voting, who came out to Bernie rallies and cheered wildly for free everything, only to skip voting, go back to college, or their dead-end job, and accumulate more debt.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwRWKqAHmAc/WD83iLdZMjI/AAAAAAAAKXE/ZzJPung7gBAFdqvFobw776HtB0Vlyl7-gCLcB/s1600/maslow-pyramid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwRWKqAHmAc/WD83iLdZMjI/AAAAAAAAKXE/ZzJPung7gBAFdqvFobw776HtB0Vlyl7-gCLcB/s320/maslow-pyramid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The stages of grief, like <a href="http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html">Maslow's Need Hierarchy</a>, are not mutually exclusive. My depression has definitely invaded my angry space. What've I got to be depressed about; I'm relatively well-off, good back-up insurance thanks to my military service, too old to worry about living until global warming causes the water wars -- why worry, be happy!<br /><br />My problem is that I care too much about everybody else, and about future generations, which hopefully will include my great grandkids. Let me correct that just a bit; I don't give a fuck about the very wealthy that will benefit the most from the tax cuts Trump has promised, or the Wall Street traders, who are drooling over the prospects of a Dodd-Frank rollback, or the Religious Right, who look forward to burning the heathens, like me, at the stake. Yes, that's how little they care about global warming -- they will burn us, because it's a good lesson, and GOD will take care of the environment.<br /><br />I'm depressed because many of the poor schmucks who voted for Trump really need help. Reneging on trade deals, falling back into an isolationist trade posture, will make everyone poorer.<br /><br />And often these same people depend most on reproductive care, the kind Planned Parenthood provides, and we know how republicans feel about PPH. They hate it for selling those "baby parts!" And they hate PBS and NPR for reporting facts about PPH not selling "baby parts," and not condemning PPH for the GODLESS heathens that they are -- to the stakes!<br /><br />I'm depressed because Donald Trump called out a particular religion and filled his already racist supporters with targeted hate. I know Muslim-Americans. I like them. They are no more prone to terrorism that the White Supremacists who support Trump -- less so, in fact. And of course, Trump started with Mexicans and he doesn't differentiate between Mexican-Americans and Mexicans, or Hispanics, or Latinos -- they're all drug dealers, criminals, and rapists, "and I assume some are good people." God, Donald Trump is just such an asshole!<br /><br />See how easy it is to fall back into the angry stage. I have much more to say about why I'm depressed, but I have to stop this diatribe, because it's making me angrier. I need to move through depression into acceptance.<br /><br />Yeah, fuck that! I'm going stay angry and depressed until Donald Trump is back in his own made-for-TV realty and not America's.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X7zX2GmNl7E/WD94d74c5sI/AAAAAAAAKXU/aVz7uZ5O-pk22stZnXLodHq0jh0mh39VQCLcB/s1600/celebrity-apprentice_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X7zX2GmNl7E/WD94d74c5sI/AAAAAAAAKXU/aVz7uZ5O-pk22stZnXLodHq0jh0mh39VQCLcB/s320/celebrity-apprentice_0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2016/11/stages-of-grief-where-hell-am-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-8804772539340602654Thu, 17 Nov 2016 21:25:00 +00002016-11-17T13:25:47.782-08:002016 ElectionClintonElectoral Collegepopular voteTrumpCrow for Thanksgiving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZErsKvadR70/WC4eak10WiI/AAAAAAAAKWM/qTKWyktb7yETKFtUEe9KetjVwm6NJRv_QCLcB/s1600/pie%2B002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZErsKvadR70/WC4eak10WiI/AAAAAAAAKWM/qTKWyktb7yETKFtUEe9KetjVwm6NJRv_QCLcB/s320/pie%2B002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I spent some time over the weekend researching recipes for cooking crow, which I’ll be having for Thanksgiving. I’ll share what I find with media journalists and pundits, who like me, were outspoken in our belief that Americans would never elect a person like Donald Trump to the Presidency of the United States of America — that “shining city on a hill.”<br /><br />In <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6567396730298487402#editor/target=post;postID=4773732290364972842;onPublishedMenu=editor;onClosedMenu=editor;postNum=6;src=postname">an earlier post</a> (and <a href="http://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article110075737.html">in the Tri-City Herald</a>), I discussed how Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders launched insurgent campaigns against the major parties, and why Trump won and Sanders lost. Essentially, the Republican Party was more ‘democratic’ than the Democratic Party.<br /><br />As a result, I opined that the GOP was stuck with a candidate they didn’t really want; a candidate whose chances of winning were “slim to none,” and, as <a href="http://www.jeffgreenfield.net/">Jeff Greenfield</a> wrote <a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/06/2016-donald-trump-gop-republicans-terrorism-worried-concerned-nominee-213963">in Politico Magazine</a>, “whose temperament and character might put a dangerous, unfit person into the Oval Office.”<br /><br />I also said, “there’s a very good chance the GOP may lose the Senate,” and concluded by saying that, “What happens to the Republican Party after the election depends on what the Republican Party leadership does now.”<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_86cEcYYOw/WC4IBtQxZgI/AAAAAAAAKV8/M8cb4mbPEOEKxfPq3VMCuQ0915OH9VtmQCLcB/s1600/694940094001_5202787786001_Trump-0300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_86cEcYYOw/WC4IBtQxZgI/AAAAAAAAKV8/M8cb4mbPEOEKxfPq3VMCuQ0915OH9VtmQCLcB/s320/694940094001_5202787786001_Trump-0300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">What happened instead is history. Trump won.</span></div><br />Hillary supporters are consoling themselves with the fact that <a href="http://cookpolitical.com/story/10174">she won the popular vote</a>. If this were a popularity contest, Hillary would win the title of the least disliked candidate.<br /><br />Not only did Trump become President-Elect, but Republicans retained control of the Senate and the House, and gained another “trifecta” — a situation where one party holds the governorship, and majorities in both state legislative houses. Republicans now have 25 trifectas, while Democrats have only 6.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/president">map of America is glaringly red</a>. This does not bode well for those seeking an end to, or even a rollback of restrictive voting rights laws, nor to the gerrymandering that disenfranchises voters of a particular “persuasion” (i.e., minorities). Furthermore, when President Trump pushes through his SCOTUS nominee(s), relief from a court that already gutted the Voting Rights Act will be unlikely.<br /><br />So instead of the Republican Party reexamining what it did wrong to end up with a candidate like Donald Trump, they’ll congratulate themselves on how democratic they were in allowing an open nominating process that resulted in nominating a “man of the people.”<br /><br />Meanwhile, democrats will spend the next six weeks wailing about how unfair the Electoral College is. Then the DNC will begin strategy sessions on how they can emulate the RNC and obstruct Trump and the Republican Congress at every opportunity. At the same time, they’ll be asking their supporters to sign President Obama’s “Thank You Card,” while simultaneously dunning them for contributions to the cause — whatever that is.<br /><br />I may be eating crow this Thanksgiving, but I’ll still have something to be thankful for — the end of this election.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sing a song of six pence,<br />a pocketful of rye.<br />Four and twenty blackbirds<br />baked in a pie.<br />When the pie was opened,<br />the birds began to sing.<br />Wasn’t that a dainty dish<br />to set before the king?</i> </div></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2016/11/crow-for-thanksgiving.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-5104791347757876574Thu, 10 Nov 2016 22:35:00 +00002016-11-10T14:40:30.842-08:002016 ElectionJon Phillipspath forwardNo point crying over spilled milk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #b45f06;">by Jon Phillips</span><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">Opinions on the future -- 12 quick points</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLyMJo4BCMQ/WCTw_xpNgjI/AAAAAAAAKVM/GdagWN-TR0IXFiKPFHhb5AhXkc2ARnQxwCLcB/s1600/donald-trump-2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLyMJo4BCMQ/WCTw_xpNgjI/AAAAAAAAKVM/GdagWN-TR0IXFiKPFHhb5AhXkc2ARnQxwCLcB/s320/donald-trump-2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">1. No point crying over spilled milk.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">2. Democrats should agree that Hillary is done running for President and be vocal about that. The fact that much of the case against her is innuendo and 20 years of Republican stink bomb attacks is now irrelevant. She's damaged politically and too old to run again. Let her go. The party should start vetting new champions for 4 years hence.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">3. Democrats should prepare for a tough 4 years and that means developing a coherent strategy to block damaging appointments and legislation -- including the Supreme Court. The future character of the nation depends on the balance in the Supreme Court and the lower courts. The GOP has succeeded in making politics into an ugly game of stalemate, so I don't see much value in going along to get along. Sometimes, gridlock and stalemate are preferable to alternatives. Remove it from your mind that Republicans will somehow turn over a new leaf of civility and compromise in government. The GOP has multiple personality disorder. Don your brass knuckles until they emerge from this madness.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">4. Democrats should do their best to take back the Senate as soon as possible and attrit the GOP margin in the House -- aim at the next midterm if possible on the Senate and flip the House in the next 3 cycles. Refocus on State races to blunt <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/03/01/this-is-the-best-explanation-of-gerrymandering-you-will-ever-see/">gerrymandering in the States</a>. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Keep banging the climate change drum every time there're disastrous weather events.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">5. Propose and support reform of electoral processes that include top two runoffs to prevent small third party spoilers from wreaking the popular agenda.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">6. I think we can count on comedians to thrash Donald continuously. He's continuous material. He could put political satirist writers out of business. Provoke him and he falls apart. People will tire of his adolescent fraternity boy drama very quickly.</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4dfWpK42Hvg/WCT16RqXXXI/AAAAAAAAKVc/nYnsbi-ih_AuKBOtNjWIebMZGOU9C4caACLcB/s1600/colbert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4dfWpK42Hvg/WCT16RqXXXI/AAAAAAAAKVc/nYnsbi-ih_AuKBOtNjWIebMZGOU9C4caACLcB/s1600/colbert.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">7. Put serious thought into development of policy proposals to resolve the fundamentals that supported his grass roots (other than bigotry, misogyny, and xenophobia which are unacceptable and corrosive to the national pluralistic spirit). Basically, how to move back toward a strong and growing middle class. I suggest big transformative infrastructure that's domestic skilled labor heavy. Press toward "fair trade," emphasize social policy strongly tilted to building lower and center middle class economic positions. Defend Obamacare by continuously and vocally proposing practical reforms while blocking repeal. Affordable medical care is essential to regrow the middle class.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">8. Do our best to prevent any march to war -- authoritarians love to distract a public by starting a war. It's what keeps many of them in power. This is an enormous danger since foreign and military policy are the <a href="http://www.cfr.org/united-states/balance-war-powers-us-president-congress/p13092">principal powers of the President</a>. Maintain lots of track 2 engagement that is forward looking with overseas partners to maintain relationships as well as possible. Keep his finger off the trigger (conventional and nuclear -- heaven forbid).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">9. Work to pull more centrist Republicans into the center and even into Democratic Party. There are lots of newly disaffected and there will be even more as Donald's unseemly underbelly is increasingly revealed in the near future.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">10. Figure out new strategies to pull more women's votes. From Romney to Trump only 2% changed sides. Romney was a polite gentleman though traditional Mormon. Donald was a groper. Why are women insensitive to such a radical difference. It suggests that between 40 and <a href="http://qz.com/833003/election-2016-all-women-voted-overwhelmingly-for-clinton-except-the-white-ones/">45% of college-educated white women</a> don't care so long as it's a white dominant male.</span></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4m7EUdaJZ40/WCT0lD0l3JI/AAAAAAAAKVU/kIGtK2oKWp8bUfNKpskaM6e6x8j2M7qJQCLcB/s1600/atlas_rJb_Baebg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4m7EUdaJZ40/WCT0lD0l3JI/AAAAAAAAKVU/kIGtK2oKWp8bUfNKpskaM6e6x8j2M7qJQCLcB/s320/atlas_rJb_Baebg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edison National Election Poll</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">11. In short, hope for the best, but prepare for continuous political battle. The nation and the world is depending on us to prevent Donald from driving the country and world off a cliff. I realize that he won't know any better, but now we have to try and limit the damage of ignorants.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">12. There's no point crying over spilled milk, but we should get out the mops and clean it up.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #b45f06;">_______________________________</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Jon Phillips is a Senior Nuclear Technology Expert at the International Atomic Energy Agency and Director, Sustainable Nuclear Power Initiative at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The opinions expressed here are his own.</span></span> </div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2016/11/no-point-crying-over-spilled-milk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-6177160441182520382Thu, 10 Nov 2016 18:54:00 +00002016-11-10T10:54:04.434-08:002016 ElectionBarack ObamacommentsPOTUSPresident Obama's Post 2016 Election Comments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y8ceJNLbk6s" width="560"></iframe></div><br />THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Yesterday, before votes were tallied, I shot a video that some of you may have seen in which I said to the American people: Regardless of which side you were on in the election, regardless of whether your candidate won or lost, the sun would come up in the morning.<br /><br />And that is one bit of prognosticating that actually came true. The sun is up. And I know everybody had a long night. I did, as well. I had a chance to talk to President-elect Trump last night -- about <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1653480692" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">3:30</span></span> in the morning, I think it was -- to congratulate him on winning the election. And I had a chance to invite him to come to the White House <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1653480693" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">tomorrow</span></span> to talk about making sure that there is a successful transition between our presidencies<br /><br />Now, it is no secret that the President-elect and I have some pretty significant differences. But remember, eight years ago, President Bush and I had some pretty significant differences. But President Bush’s team could not have been more professional or more gracious in making sure we had a smooth transition so that we could hit the ground running. And one thing you realize quickly in this job is that the presidency, and the vice presidency, is bigger than any of us.<br /><br />So I have instructed my team to follow the example that President Bush’s team set eight years ago, and work as hard as we can to make sure that this is a successful transition for the President-elect -- because we are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country. The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy. And over the next few months, we are going to show that to the world.<br /><br />I also had a chance last night to speak with Secretary Clinton, and I just had a chance to hear her remarks. I could not be prouder of her. She has lived an extraordinary life of public service. She was a great First Lady. She was an outstanding senator for the state of New York. And she could not have been a better Secretary of State. I'm proud of her. A lot of Americans look up to her. Her candidacy and nomination was historic and sends a message to our daughters all across the country that they can achieve at the highest levels of politics. And I am absolutely confident that she and President Clinton will continue to do great work for people here in the United States and all around the world.<br /><br />Now, everybody is sad when their side loses an election. But the day after, we have to remember that we’re actually all on one team. This is an intramural scrimmage. We’re not Democrats first. We're not Republicans first. We are Americans first. We’re patriots first. We all want what’s best for this country. That’s what I heard in Mr. Trump’s remarks last night. That's what I heard when I spoke to him directly. And I was heartened by that. That's what the country needs -- a sense of unity; a sense of inclusion; a respect for our institutions, our way of life, rule of law; and a respect for each other. I hope that he maintains that spirit throughout this transition, and I certainly hope that’s how his presidency has a chance to begin.<br /><br />I also told my team today to keep their heads up, because the remarkable work that they have done day in, day out -- often without a lot of fanfare, often without a lot of attention -- work in agencies, work in obscure areas of policy that make government run better and make it more responsive, and make it more efficient, and make it more service-friendly so that it's actually helping more people -- that remarkable work has left the next President with a stronger, better country than the one that existed eight years ago.<br /><br />So win or lose in this election, that was always our mission. That was our mission from day one. And everyone on my team should be extraordinarily proud of everything that they have done, and so should all the Americans that I’ve had a chance to meet all across this country who do the hard work of building on that progress every single day. Teachers in schools, doctors in the ER clinic, small businesses putting their all into starting something up, making sure they're treating their employees well. All the important work that's done by moms and dads and families and congregations in every state. The work of perfecting this union.<br /><br />So this was a long and hard-fought campaign. A lot of our fellow Americans are exultant today. A lot of Americans are less so. But that's the nature of campaigns. That's the nature of democracy. It is hard, and sometimes contentious and noisy, and it's not always inspiring.<br /><br />But to the young people who got into politics for the first time, and may be disappointed by the results, I just want you to know, you have to stay encouraged. Don’t get cynical. Don’t ever think you can’t make a difference. As Secretary Clinton said this morning, fighting for what is right is worth it.<br />Sometimes you lose an argument. Sometimes you lose an election. The path that this country has taken has never been a straight line. We zig and zag, and sometimes we move in ways that some people think is forward and others think is moving back. And that's okay. I’ve lost elections before. Joe hasn't. (Laughter.) But you know.<br /><br />(The Vice President blesses himself.) (Laughter.)<br /><br />So I've been sort of --<br /><br />THE VICE PRESIDENT: Remember, you beat me badly. (Laughter.)<br /><br />THE PRESIDENT: That’s the way politics works sometimes. We try really hard to persuade people that we’re right. And then people vote. And then if we lose, we learn from our mistakes, we do some reflection, we lick our wounds, we brush ourselves off, we get back in the arena. We go at it. We try even harder the next time.<br /><br />The point, though, is, is that we all go forward, with a presumption of good faith in our fellow citizens -- because that presumption of good faith is essential to a vibrant and functioning democracy. That's how this country has moved forward for 240 years. It’s how we’ve pushed boundaries and promoted freedom around the world. That's how we've expanded the rights of our founding to reach all of our citizens. It’s how we have come this far.<br /><br />And that's why I'm confident that this incredible journey that we're on as Americans will go on. And I am looking forward to doing everything that I can to make sure that the next President is successful in that. I have said before, I think of this job as being a relay runner -- you take the baton, you run your best race, and hopefully, by the time you hand it off you're a little further ahead, you've made a little progress. And I can say that we've done that, and I want to make sure that handoff is well-executed, because ultimately we're all on the same team.<br /><br />All right? Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.)</div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2016/11/president-obamas-post-2016-election.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-2855645655092794435Thu, 10 Nov 2016 03:25:00 +00002016-11-09T19:25:48.743-08:00Clean Power Planclimate changecoalEPAfrackingParis AgreementUnited NationsXL PipelineGoodbye to the Climate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="summary"> <div itemprop="articleBody text"><span style="color: #b45f06;">by Robert N Stavens</span></div><div itemprop="articleBody text"><span style="color: #b45f06;">The International New York Times</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AylJqBSgFMY/WCPng9V3wwI/AAAAAAAAKUk/2h81zaMuiFA4MlBOX4SY3SNs3jFiGRBzwCLcB/s1600/09stavinsWeb-jumbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AylJqBSgFMY/WCPng9V3wwI/AAAAAAAAKUk/2h81zaMuiFA4MlBOX4SY3SNs3jFiGRBzwCLcB/s400/09stavinsWeb-jumbo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><figure class="photo media media-100000004759506 layout-horizontal ratio-tall" data-media-action="modal" id="media-100000004759506" itemid="100000004759506" itemprop="associatedMedia image" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" role="group"><figcaption class="caption" itemprop="caption description"> <span class="caption-text">Smog trapped in the valley of Sandy, Utah.</span> <span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder"> <span class="visually-hidden">Credit</span> George Frey/Bloomberg </span></figcaption></figure></td></tr></tbody></table><div itemprop="articleBody text"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Donald J. Trump once tweeted that “the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing noncompetitive.” Twitter messages may not be clear signs of likely public policies, but Mr. Trump followed up during the campaign with his “America First Energy Plan,” which would rescind all of President Obama’s actions on climate change.</span></span></div><div itemprop="articleBody text"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span></span><div itemprop="articleBody text"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">The plan includes canceling United States participation in the Paris climate agreement and stopping all American funding of United Nations climate change programs. It also includes abandoning the Clean Power Plan, a mainstay of the Obama administration’s approach to achieving its emissions reduction target for carbon dioxide under the Paris agreement.</span></span></div><div itemprop="articleBody text"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span></span><div itemprop="articleBody text"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">What should we make of such campaign promises? Taking Mr. Trump at his word, he will surely seek to pull the country out of the Paris pact. But because the agreement has already come into force, under the rules, any party must wait three years before requesting to withdraw, followed by a one-year notice period.</span></span></div><div itemprop="articleBody text"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span></span><div itemprop="articleBody text"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Those rules would seem to be mere technicalities. The incoming Trump administration simply can disregard America’s pledge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 26 to 28 percent below the 2005 level by 2025. That is bad enough. But the big worry is what other key countries, including the world’s largest emitter, China, as well as India and Brazil, will do if the United States reneges on its pledge. The result could be that the Paris agreement unravels, taking it from the 97 percent of global emissions currently covered by the pact to little more than the European Union’s 10 percent share.</span></span></div><div itemprop="articleBody text"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span></span><div itemprop="articleBody text"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">In addition, Mr. Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency probably will stop work on regulations of methane emissions (a very potent greenhouse gas) from existing oil and gas operations. Undoing complex existing regulations, such as the Clean Power Plan, will be more difficult, but a reconstituted Supreme Court will probably help President Trump when that plan inevitably comes before the court.</span></span></div><div itemprop="articleBody text"><br /></div><div itemprop="articleBody text"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Also, the new president will most likely ask that the Keystone XL pipeline permit application be renewed — and facilitate other oil and gas pipelines around the country.</span></span></div><div itemprop="articleBody text"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span></span><div itemprop="articleBody text"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">On the campaign trail, Mr. Trump promised to “bring back” the coal industry by cutting environmental regulations. That may not be so easy. The decline of that industry and related employment has been caused by technological changes in mining, and competition from low-priced natural gas for electricity generation, not by environmental regulations. At the same time, Mr. Trump has pledged to promote fracking for oil and gas, but that would make natural gas even more economically attractive, and accelerate the elimination of coal-sector jobs.</span></span></div><div itemprop="articleBody text"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span></span><div itemprop="articleBody text"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">If he lives up to his campaign rhetoric, Mr. Trump may indeed be able to reverse course on climate change policy, increasing the threat to our planet, and in the process destroy much of the Obama legacy in this important realm. This will make the states even more important players on this critical issue.</span></span></div><div itemprop="articleBody text"><br /></div><div itemprop="articleBody text"><em>Robert N. Stavins is a professor at Harvard, where he directs the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements.</em></div></div></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2016/11/goodbye-to-climate.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567396730298487402.post-9208643001026058619Mon, 07 Nov 2016 04:53:00 +00002016-11-06T20:53:41.041-08:00AGWCO2global warmingsunGlobal Warming and the Influence of the Sun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2014/12/the-most-popular-deceptive-climate-graph/comment-page-3/">From Real Climate</a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEwYgwetauA/WCAH8TPkqBI/AAAAAAAAKTU/yTC_87iEMnUlr8k5I9WpxQhXDQs0bH6bgCLcB/s1600/image.php.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEwYgwetauA/WCAH8TPkqBI/AAAAAAAAKTU/yTC_87iEMnUlr8k5I9WpxQhXDQs0bH6bgCLcB/s400/image.php.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is the sun (sun spots) responsible for global warming?</td></tr></tbody></table></div>http://anunexpectederror.blogspot.com/2016/11/global-warming-and-influence-of-sun.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Richard Badalamente)0